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teas  to  Christ 


“ Teach  me  Thy  <way,  0  Lord ,  and  lead 
me  in  a  plain  path ” 


REVIEW  AND  HERALD  PUBLISHING  ASSN. 

South  Bend ,  Ind.  Washington ,  D.  C.  New  York  City 

PACIFIC  PRESS  PUB.  CO.  SOUTHERN  PUB.  HSSN. 
Mountain  View ,  Cal.  Nashville ,  Tenn. 


Copyright,  1892,  by  F.  H.  Revell  Co. 


Copyright  transferred  to  Review  and  Herald,  and  by  it  to 

Ellen  G.  White 


Copyright,  1908,  by  Ellen  G.  White 


Preface 


hlSSh 

Hoi 


J  j  PON  many  ears  there  fall  the  words  of  the  gra- 
cious  invitation,  “  Come  unto  Me,” —  that  call 
C  of  a  compassionate  Saviour  whose  heart  of  love  is 
drawn  out  toward  all  who  are  wandering  away  from 
God ;  and  in  the  hearts  of  many,  who  are  really 
"h  longing  for  the  help  to  be  found  in  Jesus,  there  is 
^  quickened  the  purpose  to  return  to  the  Father’s  house. 
With"  such  the  inquiry  of  Thomas  is  oft  repeated, 
“How  can  we  know  the  way?”  The  Father’s  house 
seems  to  be  a  long  wav  off,  and  the  road  appears  diffi¬ 
cult  and  uncertain.  What  are  the  steps  which  lead 
homeward  ? 

The  title  of  this  book  tells  its  mission.  It  points  to 
Jesus  as  the  only  one  who  is  able  to  meet  the  needs  of 
the  soul,  and  directs  the  feet  of  the  doubting  and  the 
halting  to  “  the  pathway  of  peace.”  It  leads  the  seeker 
f-  after  righteousness  and  wholeness  of  character,  step 
C  by  step,  along  the  way  of  the  Christian  life,  to  that 
fulness  of  blessing  which  is  found  in  the  complete 
surrender  of  self  and  an  unwavering  trust  in  the 
saving  grace  and  the  keeping  power  of  the  Friend  of 
sinners.  The  instruction  found  in  these  pages  has 
brought  comfort  and  hope  to  many  a  troubled  soul, 
<>  and  has  enabled  many  followers  of  the  Master  to 
>  walk  more  confidently  and  more  ioy fully  in  the  steps 


I  u64  I 


4 


PREFACE 


of  their  divine  Leader.  It  is  hoped  that  it  may  bear 
the  same  message  to  many  more  who  are  needing  the 
same  help. 

“  There  let  the  way  appear 
Steps  up  to  heaven.” 

So  it  was  with  Jacob,  when,  oppressed  with  the 
fear  that  his  sin  had  cut  him  off  from  God,  he  lay 
down  to  rest,  and  “  he  dreamed,  and  behold  a  ladder 
set  up  on  the  earth,  and  the  top  of  it  reached  to 
heaven.”  The  connection  between  earth  and  heaven 
was  thus  revealed  to  him,  and  words  of  comfort  and 
hope  were  spoken  to  the  wanderer  by  Him  who  stood 
at  the  top  of  the  shadowy  stairs.  May  the  heavenly 
vision  be  repeated  to  many  as  they  read  this  story  of 
the  way  of  life.  Publishers. 


Contents 

PAGE 

9  God’s  Love  For  Man 
19  The  Sinner’s  Need  of  Christ 
26  Repentance 
42  Confession 
47  Consecration 
53  Faith  And  Acceptance 
61  The  Test  of  Discipleship 
71  Growing  Up  Into  Christ 
81  The  Work  And  The  Life 
89  A  Knowledge  of  God 
97  The  Privilege  of  Prayer 
no  What  To  Do  With  Doubt 
1 19  Rejoicing  In  The  Lord 
134  Scriptural  Index 
138  General  Index 


Illustrations 


u 


%< 


The  lovely  pirds  making  the  air  vocal  . 
The  thorns  are  covered  with  roses 
Trees  of  the  forest  testify  to  God’s  care 
There  are  flowers  upon  the  thistles 
Recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind  ”  . 

He  wept  over  the  city  He  loved  . 

Behold  Him  in  the  wilderness 
In  Gethsemane  ...... 

Upon  the  cross  ...... 

In  the  light  of  the  cross  . 

No  escape  of  ourselves  from  the  pit  of  sin 

A  STRANGE  LIGHT  BROKE  UPON  HIS  VISION 

Ye  shall  see  heaven  open  ” 

I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life”  . 
The  grief  of  Esau  .... 

The  confession  was  forced  from  his  guilty 
Balaam  acknowledged  his  guilt 
The  “Light  which  iigmcetf  e/ery  man”  . 
Snow  scene  ...... 

At  the  foot  of  the  cross  .  .  .  . 

The  water  of  life  ..... 

Our  own  righteousness  is  as  filthy  rags  . 
God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner”  . 

The  Pharisee’s  boastful  prayer  . 

The  Forbidden  Fruit  .... 

The  voice  of  God  speaking  to  your  soul 

No  NEED  OF  LONG  AND  WEARISOME  PILGRIMAGES 
NO  PAINFUL  PENANCES  . 

Fast  in  the  snares  of  Satan  . 

The  love  of  money  .  . 

Can  we  do  despite  to  His  sacrifice? 


soul 


9 

10 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

1 7 
21 
22 
23 

25 

26 

27 

27 

28 

29 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 
37 
40 

42 

43 

47 

48 
50 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


7 


“Arise,  take  up  thy  bed” . 

“  A  LAMB  WITHOUT  BLEMISH  AND  WITHOUT  SPOT  ”  . 

The  white  robes  of  righteousness  . 

“  His  father  saw  him  ” . 

“Can  a  woman  forget?”  ..... 

As  YOU  READ  THE  PROMISES  .  .  .  .  . 

“The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth  ” 

If  he  restore  the  pledge  .  .  . 

The  path  becomes  bright  ..... 
They  shall  be  called  “trees  of  righteousness” 

As  THE  FLOWER  TURNS  TO  THE  SUN 

The  subject  for  the  soul’s  contemplation  . 

They  were  with  Him  in  the  house 
“  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  ”  . 

Like  streams  of  water  from  a  living  fountain 

He  walked  upon  the  waves  of  Galilee 

Lessons  from  the  things  of  nature 

He  who  upholds  the  unnumbered  worlds  . 

Cares  for  the  little  brown  sparrow 

Veins  of  precious  metal  ...... 

Prayers  rise  like  precious  incense  . 

Nehemiah  making  his  request  before  Artaxerxes 
The  hand  that  was  nailed  to  the  cross  . 
Christians  are  set  as  light-bearers  . 

Gather  the  roses  ...... 

Beautiful  garden  spoiled  with  thorns 

God’s  promises  like  fragrant  flowers 

Briers  and  thorns  ...... 

They  must  feed  their  young  .... 

Joy  in  heaven  over  one  soul  redeemed  . 


55 

56 

57 
5§ 

59 

60 

61 

63 

64 
7i 
73 
75 
77 
79 
81 
87 

89 

90 
90 
96 

103 

104 
109 

120 

121 

122 

123 
123 
129 
132 


The  illustrations  in  this  new  edition  were  made  by  Mr.  Warren 

B.  Davis,  of  New  York  City. 


God’s  Love  For  Man 

NATURE  and  revelation  alike  testify  of  God’s  love. 

Our  Father  in  heaven  is  the  source  of  life,  of 
wisdom,  and  of  joy.  Look  at  the  wonderful  and  beau¬ 
tiful  things  of  nature.  Think  of  their  marvelous  adap¬ 
tation  to  the  needs  and  happiness,  not  only  of  man, 
but  of  all  living  creatures.  The  sunshine  and  the  rain, 
that  gladden  and  refresh  the  earth,  the  hills  and  seas 
and  plains,  all  speak  to  us  of  the  Creator’s  love.  It 
is  God  who  supplies  the  daily  needs  of  all  His  crea¬ 
tures.  In  the  beautiful  words  of  the  Psalmist, — 


“The  eyes  of  all  wait  upon  Thee; 

And  Thou  givest  them  their  meat  in  due  season. 
Thou  openest  Thine  hand, 

And  satisfiest  the  desire  of  every  living  thing.”  1 


God  made  man  perfectly  holy  and  happy ;  and  the 
fair  earth,  as  it  came  from  the  Creator’s  hand, 
bore  no  blight  of  decay  or  shadow  of  the 
curse.  It  is  transgression  of  God’s  law  — 
the  law  of  love  —  that  has  brought  woe 
and  death.  Yet  even  amid  the  suffer¬ 
ing  that  results  from  sin,  God’s  love 
is  revealed.  It  is  written  that  God 
cursed  the  ground  for  man’s  sake.2 
The  thorn  and  the  thistle  —  the 
difficulties  and  trials  that  make  his 

1  Ps.  145:  15,  16.  2  Gen.  3:  17.  The  lovely  birds  making 

the  air  vocal 


IO 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


life  one  of  toil  and  care  —  were  appointed  for  his 
good,  as  a  part  of  the  training  needful  in  God’s  plan 
for  his  uplifting  from  the  ruin  and  degrada¬ 
tion  that  sin  has  wrought.  The  w 


though  fallen,,  is  not  all  sorrow  and 


misery.  In  nature  itself  are  mes¬ 
sages  of  hope  and  comfort.  There 
are  flowers  upon  the  thistles,  and 
the  thorns  are  covered  with  roses. 


“God  is  love,”  is  written  upon 


every  opening  bud,  upon  every  spire  of  springing 
grass.  The  lovely  birds  making  the  air  vocal  with 
their  happy  songs,  the  delicately  tinted  flowers  in 
their  perfection  perfuming  the  air,  the  lofty  trees 
of  the  forest  with  their  rich  foliage  of  living 
green, —  all  testify  to  the  tender,  fatherly  care  of 
our  God,  and  to  His  desire  to  make  His  children 


lianoy. 


File  Word  of  God  reveals 
character.  He  Himself  has 
ared  His  infinite  love  and 
When  Moses  prayed, 
iow  me  Thy  glory,”  the 
I  answered,  “  I  will  make 


My  goodness  pass  before 
.”  1  This  is  His  glory.  The 


Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long- 
sufifering,  and  abundant  in  goodness  and 

1  F.x.  33:  18,  IQ. 


Lord  passed  before  Moses,  and 
proclaimed,  “  The  Lord,  The 


GOD  S  LOVE  FOR  MAN 


1 1 


truth,  keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving  iniquity 
and  transgression  and  sin.”  1  He  is  “  slow  to  anger, 
and  of  great  kindness,”  2  “  because  He  delighteth  in 
mercy.”  3 

God  has  bound  our  hearts  to  Him  by  unnumbered 


and  in  earth, 
things  of  nature, 
and  ten  derest 
human  hearts 
has  sought  to 
to  us.  Yet  these 
represent  His 


/  these  evidences 
/  the  enemy  of 
~  minds  of  men, 
looked  upon  God 
thought  of  Him 
unfor  givi  ng. 
conceive  of  God 
chief  attribute  is 


as  a  being  whose 


stern  justice^, —  one  who  is  a  severe  judge,  a  harsh, 
exacting  creditor.  He  pictured  the  Creator  as  a  being 
who  is  watching  with  jealous  eye  to  discern  the  errors 
and  mistakes  of  men,  that  He  may  visit  judgments 
upon  them.  It  was  to  remove  this  dark  shadow,  by 
revealing  to  the  world  the  infinite  love  of  God,  that 
Jesus  came  to  live  among  men. 

The  Son  of  God  came  from  heaven  to  make  mani¬ 
fest  the  Father.  “No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any 
time ;  the  only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom 

1  Ex.  34:  6,  7. 


s  Micah  7:18 


2  Jonah  4  •  2. 


12 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


of  the  Father,  He  hath  declared  Him.”  1  “  Neither 

knoweth  any  man  the  Father,  save  the  Son,  and  he 
to  whomsoever  the  Son  will  reveal  Him.”  2  When 
one  of  the  disciples  made  the  request,  “  Show  us 
the  Father,”  Jesus  answered,  “  Have  I  been  so 
long  time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou  not  known 
Me,  Philip?  he  that  hath  seen  Me  hath  seen  the 
Father;  and  how  sayest  thou  then,  Show  us  the 
Father?'”3 

In  describing  His  earthly  mission,  Jesus'  said,  The 
Lord  “  hath  anointed  Me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
poor ;  He  hath  sent  Me  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to 
preach  deliverance  to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of 
sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are 
bruised.” 4  This  was  His  work.  He  went  about 
doing  good,  and  healing  all  that  were  oppressed  by 

Satan.  There  were  whole  villages 
where  there  was  not  a  moan  of 
sickness  in  any  house ;  for  He  had 
passed  through  them,  and  healed  all 
their  sick.  His  work  gave  evidence 
of  Flis  divine  anointing.  Love, 
mercy,  and  compassion  were  re¬ 
vealed  in  every  act  of  His  life ; 
His  heart  went  out  in  tender 
sympathy  to  the  children  of 
men.  Pie  took  man’s  na¬ 
ture,  that  He  might  reach 
man’s  wants.  The  poorest 
and  humblest  were  not 


Recovering  of  sight  to 
the  blind." 


1  John  i:  18. 

3  John  14:8,  9. 


;  Matt.  1 1 :  27. 
Luke  4:  18. 


god's  love  for  man 


r3 


afraid  to  approach  Him.  Even  little  children  were 
attracted  to  Him.  They  loved  to  climb  upon  His 
knees,  and  gaze  into  the  pensive  face,  benignant  with 
love. 

Jesus  did  not  suppress  one  word  of  truth,  but  He 
uttered  it  always  in  love.  He  exercised  the 
greatest  tact,  and  thoughtful,  kind  attention, 
in  His  intercourse  with  the  people.  He 
was  never  rude,  never  needlessly  spoke 
a  severe  word,  never  gave  needless  pain 
to  a  sensitive  soul.  He  did  not  censure 
human  weakness.  He  spoke  the  truth, 
but  always  in  love.  He  denounced  hypoc¬ 
risy,  unbelief,  and  iniquity ;  but  tears  were 
in  His  voice  as  He  uttered  His  scathing 
rebukes.  He  wept  over  Jerusalem,  the 
city  He  loved,  which  refused  to  receive 
Him,  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life. 

They  had  rejected  Him,  the  Saviour, 
but  He  regarded  them  with  pitying  ten¬ 
derness.  His  life  was  one  of  self-denial 
and  thoughtful  care  for  others.  Every 
soul  was  precious  in  His  eyes.  While 
He  ever  bore  Himself  with  divine  dignity,  He  bowed 
with  the  tenderest  regard  to  every  member  of  the 
family  of  God.  In  all  men  He  saw  fallen  souls  whom 
it  was  His  mission  to  save. 

Such  is  the  character  of  Christ  as  revealed  in  His 
life.  This  is  the  character  of  God.  It  is  from  the 
Father’s  heart  that  the  streams  of  divine  compassion, 


He  wept  over  the 
city  He  loved 


I 


14  STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


RehoH  Him  in 
the  wilderness 


manifest  in  Christ,  flow  out  to  the 
children  of  men.  Jesus,  the  tender, 
pitying  Saviour,  was  God  “  mani¬ 
fest  in  the  flesh.”  1 

It  was  to  redeem  us  that  Jesus 
lived  and  suffered  and  died.  He 
became  a  “  Man  of  sorrows,” 
that  we  might  be  made  par¬ 
takers  of  everlasting  joy;  God 
permitted  His  beloved  Son, 
full  of  grace  and  truth,  to 
come  from  a  world  of  in¬ 
describable  glory,  to  a 
world  marred  and  blighted 
with  sin,  darkened  with  the 
shadow  of  death  and  the  curse, 
le  permitted  Him  to  leave  the 
bosom  of  His  love,  the  adora¬ 
tion  of  the  angels,  to  suffer 
shame,  insult,  humiliation, 
hatred,  and  death.  ,  “  The 
chastisement  of  our  peace 
was  upon  Him  ;  and  with  His  stripes  we  are  healed.”  2 
Behold  Him  in  the  wilderness,  in  Gethsemane,  upon 
the  cross !  The  spotless  Son  of  God  took  upon  Him¬ 
self  the  burden  of  sin.  He  who  had  been  one  with 
God,  felt  in  His  soul  the  awful  separation  that  sin 
makes  between  God  and  man.  This  wrung  from 
His  lips  the  anguished  cry,  “  My  God,  My  God,  why 
hast  Thou  forsaken  Me?”3  It  was  the  burden  of  sin, 


1  1  Tim.  3 :  16. 


2  Isa.  S3 :  5. 


R  Matt.  27  :  46. 


god's  love  for  man 


15 


the  sense  of  its  terrible  enormity,  of  its  separation  of 
the  soul  from  God, —  it  was  this  that  broke  the  heart 
of  the  Son  of  God. 

But  this  great  sacrifice  was  not  made  in  order  to 
create  in  the  Father’s  heart  a  love  for  man,  not  to 
make  Him  willing  to  save.  No,  no !  “  God  so  loved 

the  world,  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son.”  1 
The  Father  loves  us,  not  because  of  the  great  propi¬ 
tiation,  but  He  provided  the  propitiation  because  He 
loves  us.  Christ  was  the  medium  through  which 
He  could  pour  out  His  infinite  love  upon  a  fallen 
world.  “  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world 
unto  Himself.” 2  God  suffered  with  His  Son.  In 
the  agony  of  Gethsemane,  the  death  of  Calvary,  the 
heart  of  Infinite  Love  paid  the  price  of  our  redemption. 

Jesus  said,  “  Therefore 
doth  My  Father  love  Me, 
because  I  lay  down  My 
life,  that  I  might  take  it  * 
again.”  3  That  is,  “  My 
Father  hath  so  loved  you 
that  He  even  loves  Me 
more  for  giving  My  life  to 
redeem  you.  In  becoming 
your  Substitute  and 
Surety,  by  surrendering 
My  life,  by  taking  your 
liabilities,  your  transgres¬ 
sions,  I  am  endeared  to  My 
Father ;  for  by  My  Sacrifice, 

’John  3:  16.  2  2  Cor.  5:  19. 

8  John  10:  17. 


In  Gethsemane 


i6 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


God  can  be  just,  and  yet  the  Justifier  of  him  who 
believeth  in  Jesus.” 

None  but  the  Son  of  God  could  accomplish  our 
redemption ;  for  only  He  who  was  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father  could  declare  Him.  Only  He  who  knew 
the  height  and  depth  of  the  love  of  God  could  make 
it  manifest.  Nothing  less  than  the  infinite  sacrifice 
made  by  Christ  in  behalf  of  fallen  man  could  express 
the  Father’s  love  to  lost  humanity. 

“  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He  gave  His  only 
begotten  Son.”  He  gave  Him  not 
only  to  live  among  men,  to  bear 
their  sins,  and  die  their  sacrifice, 

He  gave  Him  to  the  fallen  race. 

Christ  was  to  identify  Plimself  with 
the  interests  and  needs  of  human¬ 
ity.  He  who  was  one  with  God 
has  linked  Himself  with  the  chil¬ 
dren  of  men  by  ties  that  are  never 
to  be  broken.  Jesus  is  “not  ashamed 
to  call  them  brethren  ;  ”  1  He  is 
our  Sacrifice,  our  Advocate, 
our  Brother,  bearing  our  hu- 
man  form  before  the 
Father’s  throne,  and 
through  eternal  ages  one 
with  the  race  He  has  re¬ 
deemed, —  the  Son  of  man. 

And  all  this  that  man  might 
be  uplifted  from  the  ruin  and 


1  Heb.  2:  11. 


Upon  the  cross 


god's  love  for  man 


1 7 


degradation  of  sin,  that  he  might  reflect  the  love  of 
God,  and  share  the  joy  of  holiness. 

The  price  paid  for  our  redemption,  the  infinite  sac¬ 
rifice  of  our  heavenly  Father  in  giving  His  Son  to  die 
for  us,  should  give  us  exalted  conceptions  of  what  we 
may  become  through  Christ.  As 

the  inspired  apostle  John  be¬ 


held  the  height, 
breadth  of  the 
toward  the 
he  was  filled 
and  reverence ; 
find  suitable 
which  to 
greatness  and 
this  love,  he 
world  to  behold 
what  manner 
Father  hath 
us,  that  we 


the  depth,  the 
Father’s  love 


perishing  race, 
with  adoration 
and,  failing  to 
language  in 
express  the 
tenderness  of 
called  upon  the 
it.  “Behold, 
of  love  the 


The  more  we  study  the  divine 
character  in  the  light  of  the 
cross 


the  light  of  the  bestowed  upon 
should  be  called 


the  sons  of  God.”  1  What  a  value  this  places  upon 
man !  Through  transgression,  the  sons  of  man  become 
subjects  of  Satan.  Through  faith  in  the  atoning  sac¬ 
rifice  of  Christ,  the  sons  of  Adam  may  become  the 
sons  of  God.  By  assuming  human  nature,  Christ  ele¬ 
vates  humanity.  Fallen  men  are  placed  where,  through 
connection  with  Christ,  they  may  indeed  become  worthy 
of  the  name  a  sons  of  God.” 

Such  love  is  without  a  parallel.  Children  of  the 
heavenly  King!  Precious  promise!  Theme  for  the 


1  i  John  3:1. 


i8 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


most  profound  meditation !  The  matchless  love  of 
God  for  a  world  that  did  not  love  Him !  The  thought 
has  a  subduing  power  upon  the  soul,  and  brings  the 
mind  into  captivity  to  the  will  of  God.  The  more  we 
study  the  divine  character  in  the  light  of  the  cross, 
the  more  we  see  mercy,  tenderness,  and  forgiveness 
blended  with  equity  and  justice,  and  the  more  clearly 
we  discern  innumerable  evidences  of  a  love  that  is 
infinite,  and  a  tender  pity  surpassing  a  mother’s  yearn¬ 
ing  sympathy  for  her  wayward  child. 

"  Every  human  tie  may  perish, 

Friend  to  friend  unfaithful  prove, 

Mothers  cease  their  own  to  cherish, 

Heaven  and  earth  at  last  remove; 

But  no  change 
Can  attend  Jehovah’s  love.” 


The  Sinner’s  Need  of  Christ 


MAN  was  originally  endowed  with  noble  powers 
and  a  well-balanced  mind.  He  was  perfect  in 
his  being,  and  in  harmony  with  God.  His  thoughts 
were  pure,  his  aims  holy.  But  through  disobedience, 
his  powers  were  perverted,  and  selfishness  took  the 
place  of  love.  His  nature  became  so  weakened  through 
transgression  that  it  was  impossible  for  him,  in  his 
own  strength,  to  resist  the  power  of  evil.  He  was 
made  captive  by  Satan,  and  would  have  remained  so 
forever  had  not  God  specially  interposed.  It  was  the 
tempter’s  purpose  to  thwart  the  divine  plan  in  man’s 
creation,  and  fill  the  earth  with  woe  and  desolation. 
And  he  would  point  to  all  this  evil  as  the  result  of 
God’s  work  in  creating  man. 

In  his  sinless  state,  man  held  joyful  communion 
with  Him  “  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wis¬ 
dom  and  knowledge.”  1  But  after  his  sin,  he  could 
no  longer  find  joy  in  holiness,  and  he  sought  to  hide 
from  the  presence  of  God.  Such  is  still  the  condition 
of  the  unrenewed  heart.  It  is  not  in  harmony  with 
God,  and  finds  no  joy  in  communion  with  Him.  The 
sinner  could  not  be  happy  in  God’s  presence ;  he  would 
shrink  from  the  companionship  of  holy  beings.  Could 
he  be  permitted  to  enter  heaven,  it  would  have  no  joy 
for  him.  The  spirit  of  unselfish  love  that  reigns  there 
—  every  heart  responding  to  the  heart  of  Infinite  Love 

1  Col-  2:  3. 


20 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


—  would  touch  no  answering  chord  in  his  soul.  His 
,  thoughts,  his  interests,  his  motives,  would  be  alien  to 
those  that  actuate  the  sinless  dwellers  there.  He 
would  be  a  discordant  note  in  the  melody  of  heaven. 
Heaven  would  be  to  him  a  place  of  torture ;  he  would 
long  to  be  hidden  from  Him  who  is  its  light,  and  the 
center  of  its  joy.  It  is  no  arbitrary  decree  on  the  part 
of  God  that  excludes  the  wicked  from  heaven :  they 
are  shut  out  by  their  own  unfitness  for  its  compan¬ 
ionship.  The  glory  of  God  would  be  to  them  a  con¬ 
suming  fire.  They  would  welcome  destruction,  that 
they  might  be  hidden  from  the  face  of  Him  who  died 
to  redeem  them. 

It  is  impossible  for  us,  of  ourselves,  to  escape  from 
the  pit  of  sin  in  which  we  are  sunken.  Our  hearts 
are  evil,  and  we  can  not  change  them.  “  Who  can 
bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean  ?  —  Not  one.” 
“  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God :  for  it  is 
not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  be.”  1 
Education,  culture,  the  exercise  of  the  will,  human 
effort,  all  have  their  proper  sphere,  but  here  they  are 
powerless.  They  may  produce  an  outward  correctness 
of  behavior,  but  they  can  not  change  the  heart ;  they 
can  not  purify  the  springs  of  life.  There  must  be  a 
power  working  from  within,  a  new  life  from  above, 
before  men  can  be  changed  from  sin  to  holiness. 
That  power  is  Christ.  His  grace  alone  can  quicken 
the  lifeless  faculties  of  the  soul,  and  attract  it  to  God, 
to  holiness.  The  Saviour  said,  “  Except  a  man  be 
born  from  above,”  unless  he  shall  receive  a  new  heart, 

1  Job  14:4;  Rom.  8:7. 


t 


THE  SINNER’S  NEED  OF  CHRIST  21 


new  desires,  purposes,  and  motives,  leading  to  a  new 
life,  “  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God.’'  1  The 
idea  that  it  is  necessary  only  to  develop  the  good  that 
exists  in  man  by  nature,  is  a  fatal  deception.  “  The 
natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of 
God :  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him :  neither  can 
he  know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned.” 
“  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee,  Ye  must  be  born 
again.”  2  Of  Christ  it  is  written,  “  In  Him  was  life ; 
and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men,”  the  only  “name 
under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be 
saved.”  3 

It  is  not  enough  to  perceive  the  lov¬ 
ing-kindness  of  God,  to  see  the  benev¬ 
olence,  the  fatherly  tenderness,  of  His 
character.  It  is  not  enough  to  discern 
the  wisdom  and  justice  of  His 
law,  to  see  that  it  is  founded 
upon  the  eternal  principle  of 
love.  Paul  the  apostle 
saw  all  this  when  he  ex¬ 
claimed,  “  I  consent  unto 
the  law  that  it  is  good.” 

“  The  law  is  holy,  and  the 
commandment  holy,  and 
just,  and  good.”  But  he 
added,  in  the  bitterness  of 
his  soul-anguish  and  de¬ 
spair,  “  I  am  carnal,  sold 
under  sin.”  4  He  longed 


4  It  is  impossible 
for  us,  of  our- 
selve  ,  to  escape 
frcm  the  pit  of 
s;n  in  which  we 
are  sunken 


2  x  Cor.  2:  14;  John  3:  7. 
4  Rom.  7:16,  12,  14. 


1  John  3:3  (margin). 

3  John  1:4;  Acts  4:  12. 


22 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


As  he  slept,  a 
strange  light 
broke  upon 
hi*  vision 


for  the  purity,  the  righteousness,  to  which  in  himself 
he  was  powerless  to  attain,  and  he  cried  out,  “  O 
wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
this  body  of  death?  ”  1  Such  is  the  cry  that  has  gone 
up  from  burdened  hearts  in  all  lands  and  in  all  ages. 
To  all,  there  is  but  one  answer,  “  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.”  2 
Many  are  the  figures  by  which  the  Spirit  of  God 
has  sought  to  illustrate  this  truth,  and  make  it  plain 
to  souls  that  long  to  be  freed  from  the  burden  of  guilt. 
When,  after  his  sin  in  deceiving  Esau,  Jacob  fled  from 
his  father’s  home,  he  was  weighed  down  with  a  sense 
of  guilt.  Lonely  and  outcast  as  he  was,  separated 
from  all  that  had  made  life  dear,  the  one  thought  that 
above  all  others  pressed  upon  his  soul,  was  the  fear 

that  his  sin  had  cut  him  ofif  from 
God,  that  he  was  forsaken  of 
Heaven.  In  sadness  he  lay 
down  to  rest  on  the  bare  earth, 
around  him  only  the  lonely  hills, 
and  above,  the  heavens  bright 
with  stars.  As  he  slept,  a  strange 
light  broke  upon  his  vision ;  and 
lo,  from  the  plain  on  which  he  lay, 
vast  shadowy  stairs  seemed  to  lead 
upward  to  the  very  gates  of  heaven, 
and  upon  them  angels  of  God 
were  passing  up  and  down ; 
while  from  the  glory  above, 
the  divine  voice  was  heard  in 


’Rom.  7:24  (margin).  2  John  1:29. 


THE  SINNER’S  NEED  OF  CHRIST  23 

a  message  of  comfort  and  hope.  Thus  was  made 
known  to  Jacob  that  which  met  the  need  and  longing 
of  his  soul, —  a  Saviour.  With  joy  and  gratitude 
he  saw  revealed  a  way  by  which  he,  a  sinner,  could  be 
restored  to  communion  with  God.  The  mystic  ladder 
of  his  dream  represented  Jesus,  the 
only  medium  of  communication  be¬ 
tween  God  and  man. 

This  is  the  same  figure  to  which 
Christ  referred  in  His  conversa¬ 
tion  with  Nathanael,  when  He 
said,  “  Ye  shall  see  heaven  open, 
and  the  angels  of  God  ascending 
and  descending  upon  the  Son  of 
man.” 1  In  the  apostasy,  man 
alienated  himself  from  God ;  earth 
was  cut  off  from  heaven.  Across 
the  gulf  that  lay  between,  there 
could  be  no  communion.  But 
through  Christ,  earth  is  again 
linked  with  heaven.  With  His  own  merits,  Christ  has 
bridged  the  gulf  which  sin  had  made,  so  that  the  min¬ 
istering  angels  can  hold  communion  with  man.  Christ 
connects  fallen  man,  in  his  weakness  and  helplessness 
with  the  Source  of  infinite  power. 

But  in  vain  are  men’s  dreams  of  progress,  in  vain 
all  efforts  for  the  uplifting  of  humanity,  if  they  neg¬ 
lect  the  one  source  of  hope  and  help  for  the  fallen 
race.  “  Everv  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  ”  2  is 
from  God.  There  is  no  true  excellence  of  character 

2  James  1:17. 


1  John  1:51. 


24 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


apart  from  Him.  And  the  only  way  to  God  is  Christ. 
He  says,  “I  am  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life: 
no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by  Me.  ”  1 

The  heart  of  God  yearns  over  His  earthly  children 
with  a  love  stronger  than  death.  In  giving  up  His 
Son,  He  has  poured  out  to  us  all  heaven  in  one  gift. 
The  Saviour’s  life  and  death  and  intercession,  the 
ministry  of  angels,  the  pleading  of  the  Spirit,  the 
Father  working  above  and  through  all,  the  unceasing 
interest  of  heavenly  beings, — •  all  are  enlisted  in  behalf 
of  man’s  redemption. 

O  let  us  contemplate  the  amazing  sacrifice  that 
has  been  made  for  us !  Let  us  try  to  appreciate  the 
labor  and  energy  that  Heaven  is  expending  to  reclaim 
the  lost,  and  bring  them  back  to  the  Father’s  house. 
Motives  stronger,  and  agencies  more  powerful,  could 
never  be  brought  into  operation  ;  the  exceeding  rewards 
for  right-doing,  the  enjoyment  of  heaven,  the  society 
of  the  angels,  the  communion  and  love  of  God  and 
His  Son,  the  elevation  and  extension  of  all  our  powers 
throughout  eternal  ages, —  are  these  not  mighty  incen¬ 
tives  and  encouragements  to  urge  us  to  give  the  heart’s 
loving  service  to  our  Creator  and  Redeemer? 

And,  on  the  other  hand,  the  judgments  of  God 
pronounced  against  sin,  the  inevitable  retribution,  the 
degradation  of  our  character,  and  the  final  destruction, 
are  presented  in  God’s  Word  to  warn  us  against  the 
service  of  Satan. 

Shall  we  not  regard  the  mercy  of  God?  What 
more  could  He  do?  Let  us  place  ourselves  in  right 

1  John  14:  6. 


THE  SINNER’S  NEED  OF  CHRIST  25 


relation  to  Him  who  has  loved  us  with  amazing  love. 
Let  us  avail  ourselves  of  the  means  provided  for  11s 
that  we  may  be  transformed  into  His  likeness,  and 
be  restored  to  fellowship  with  the  ministering  angels, 
to  harmony  and  communion  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son. 


“  1  am  the  Way,  the  ^ 
f  ruth,  and  the  Life.” 


Repentance 


HOW  shall  a  man  be  just  with  God?  How  shall 
the  sinner  be  made  righteous  ?  It  is  only  through 
Christ  that  we  can  be  brought  into  harmony  with  God, 
with  holiness ;  but  how  are  we  to  come  to  Christ  ? 
Many  are  asking  the  same  question  as  did  the  multi¬ 
tude  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  when,  convicted  of  sin, 
they  cried  out,  “What  shall  we  do?,”  The  first  word 
of  Peter’s  answer  was,  “  Repent.”  1  At  another  time, 
shortly  after,  he  said,  “  Repent,  .  .  .  and  be  converted, 
that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out.”  2 

Repentance  includes  sorrow  for  sin,  and  a  turning 
away  from  it.  We  shall  not  renounce  sin  unless  we 
see  its  sinfulness  ;  until  we  turn  away  from  it  in  heart, 
there  will  be  no  real  change  in  the  life. 

There  are  many  who  fail  to  understand  the  true 
nature  of  repentance.  Multitudes  sorrow  that  they 
have  sinned,  and  even  make  an  outward  reformation, 
because  they  fear  that  their  wrong-doing 
will  bring  suffering  upon  themselves. 
Put  this  is  not  repentance  in  the  Bible 
sense.  They  lament  the  suffering, 
rather  than  the  sin.  Such  was  the 
grief  of  Esau  when  he  saw  that  the 
birthright  was  lost  to  him  forever. 
Balaam,  terrified  by  the  angel  stand¬ 
ing  in  his  pathway  with  drawn 

1  Acts  2:  38.  2  Acts  3:  19 


The  grief  cf  Fsau 
when  the  birth¬ 
right  was  lost  to 
him  forever 


REPENTANCE 


•2  7 


The  confession  was 
forced  from  his  guilty 
soul  by  a  fearful 
looking  for  of 
judgment 


sword,  acknowledged  his  guilt  lest  he 
should  lose  his  life ;  but  there  was  no 
genuine  repentance  for  sin,  no  conversion 
of  purpose,  no  abhorrence  of  evil.  Judas 
Iscariot,  after  betraying  his  Lord,  ex¬ 
claimed,  “  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have 
betrayed  the  innocent  blood.”  1 
The  confession  was  forced  from 
his  guilty  soul  by  an  awful  sense  of  con¬ 
demnation  and  a  fearful  looking  for  of 
judgment.  The  consequences  that 
were  to  result  to  him  filled  him 
with  terror,  but  there  was  no  deep, 
heart-breaking  grief  in  his  soul,  that  he  had  betrayed 
the  spotless  Son  of  God,  and  denied  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel.  Pharaoh,  when  suffering  under  the  judgments 
of  God,  acknowledged  his  sin,  in  order  to  escape 
further  punishment,  but  returned  to  his 
defiance  of  Heaven  as  soon  as  the 
plagues  were  stayed.  These  all 
lamented  the  results  of  sin,  but  did 
not  sorrow  for  the  sin  itself. 

But  when  the  heart 
yields  to  the  influence  of 
the  Spirit  of  God,  the 
conscience  will  be  quick¬ 
ened,  and  the  sinner  will 
discern  something  of  the 
depth  and  sacredness  of 
God’s  holy  law,  the  foun- 

1  Matt.  27:  4. 


Balaam  acknowl¬ 
edged  his  guilt 
lest  he  should 
lose  his  life 


it 


28 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


elation  of  His  government  in  heaven  and  on  earth. 
The  “  Light  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world,”  1  illumines 
the  soul,  and  the  The  “  Light  which 
darkness  are 


the 


lighteth  every 
man 


Conviction  takes 
mind  and  heart 
a  sense  of  the 
Jehovah,  and 
of  appearing,  in 
unclean  ness, 


secret  chambers  of 
hidden  things  of 
made  manifest, 
hold  upon  the 
The  sinner  has 
righteousness  of 
feels  the  terror 
his  own  guilt  and 
before  the  Searcher  of 


hearts.  He  sees  the  love  of  God,  the  beauty  of  holi¬ 
ness,  the  joy  of  purity;  he  longs  to  be  cleansed,  and 
to  be  restored  to  communion  with  Heaven. 

The  prayer  of  David  after  his  fall,  illustrates  the 
nature  of  true  sorrow  for  sin.  His  repentance  was 
sincere  and  deep.  There  was  no  effort  to  palliate  his 
guilt;  no  desire  to  escape  the  judgment  threatened, 
inspired  his  prayer.  David  saw  the  enormity  of  his 
transgression ;  he  saw  the  defilement  of  his  soul ;  he 
loathed  his  sin.  It  was  not  for  pardon  only  that  he 
prayed,  but  for  purity  of  heart.  He  longed  for  the 
joy  of  holiness, —  to  be  restored  to  harmony  and  com¬ 
munion  with  God.  This  was  the  language  of  his 
soul : 2 — 


“  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven,  whose  sin 
is  covered. 

Blessed  is  the  man  unto  whom  the  Lord  imputeth  not 
iniquity, 

And  in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile.”’ 

^John  1:9.  2  Ps.  32:1,  2. 


REPENTANCE 


29 


“  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  accord¬ 
ing  to  Thy  loving-kindness : 
According  unto  the  multitude  of  Thy  tender 
mercies  blot  out  my  transgressions.  .  .  . 

I  acknowledge  my  transgressions :  and  my  sin 
is  ever  before  me.  .  .  . 

Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean :  wash 
me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow.  .  .  . 
Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God ; 

And  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me. 

Cast  me  not  away  from  Thy  presence ; 

And  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me. 

Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation; 

And  uphold  me  with  Thy  free  Spirit.  .  .  . 

Deliver  me  from  blood-guiltiness,  O  God,  Thou  God  of 
my  salvation: 

And  my  tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  Thy  righteousness.”  1 


A  repentance  such  as  this,  is  beyond  the  reach  of 
our  own  power  to  accomplish ;  it  is  obtained  only  from 
Christ,  who  ascended  up  on  high,  and  has  given  gifts 
unto  men. 

Just  here  is  a  point  on  which  many  err,  and  hence 
they  fail  of  receiving  the  help  that 
Christ  desires  to  give  them.  They 
think  that  they  can  not  come  to 
Christ  unless  they  first  repent,  and 
that  repentance  prepares  for  the 
forgiveness  of  their  sins.  It 
is  true  that  repentance 
does  precede  the  for¬ 
giveness  of  sins ;  for 
it  is  only  the  broken 


Wash  me,  and  1 
shall  be  whiter 
than  snow.” 


3° 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


and  contrite  heart  that  will  feel  the  need  of  a  Sa¬ 
viour.  But  must  the  sinner  wait  till  he  has  repented 
before  he  can  come  to  Jesus?  Is  repentance  to  be 
made  an  obstacle  between  the  sinner  and  the  Saviour? 

The  Bible  does  not  teach  that  the  sinner  must 
repent  before  he  can  heed  the  invitation  of  Christ, 
“  Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.”  1  It  is  the  virtue  that 
goes  forth  from  Christ,  that  leads  to  genuine  repent¬ 
ance.  Peter  made  the  matter  clear  in  his  statement  to 
the  Israelites,  when  he  said,  “  Him  hath  God  exalted 
with  His  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour, 
for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgiveness  of 
sins.”  2  We  can  no  more  repent  without  the  Spirit 
of  Christ  to  awaken  the  conscience  than  we  can  be 
pardoned  without  Christ. 

Christ  is  the  source  of  every  right  impulse.  He 
is  the  only  one  that  can  implant  in  the  heart  enmity 
against  sin.  Every  desire  for  truth  and  purity,  every 
conviction  of  our  own  sinfulness,  is  an  evidence  that 
His  Spirit  is  moving  upon  our  hearts. 

Jesus  has  said,  “  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  Me.”  3  Christ  must  be  re¬ 
vealed  to  the  sinner  as  the  Saviour  dying  for  the  sins 
of  the  world ;  and  as  we  behold  the  Lamb  of  God 
upon  the  cross  of  Calvary,  the  mystery  of  redemption 
begins  to  unfold  to  our  minds,  and  the  goodness  of 
God  leads  us  to  repentance.  In  dying  for  sinners 
Christ  manifested  a  love  that  is  incomprehensible 
and  as  the  sinner  beholds  this  love,  it  softens  the  heart 

1  Matt.  11:28.  2  Acts  5:31. 

3  John  12:  32. 


REPENTANCE 


31 


impresses  the  mind,  and  inspires  contrition  in  the  soul. 

It  is  true  that  men  sometimes  become  ashamed  of 
their  sinful  ways,  and  give  up  some  of  their  evil 
habits,  before  they  are  conscious  that  they  are  being 
drawn  to  Christ.  But  whenever  they  make  an  effort 
to  reform,  from  a  sincere  desire  to  do  right,  it  is  the 
power  of  Christ  that  is  drawing  them.  An  influence 
of  which  they  are  unconscious  works  upon  the  soul, 
and  the  conscience  is  quickened,  and  the  outward  life 
is  amended.  And  as  Christ  draws  them  to  look  upon 
His  cross,  to  behold  Him  whom  their  sins  have  pierced, 
the  commandment  comes  home  to  the  conscience.  The 
wickedness  of  their  life,  the  deep-seated  sin  of  the 
soul,  is  revealed  to  them.  They  begin  to  comprehend 
something  of  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  and  exclaim, 
“  What  is  sin,  that  it  should  require  such  a  sacrifice 
for  the  redemption  of  its  victim?  Was  all 
this  love,  all  this  suffering,  all  this  hu¬ 
miliation  demanded,  that  we  might  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life  ?  ” 
The  sinner  may  resist  this  love,  may 
refuse  to  be  drawn  to  Christ;  but  if 
he  does  not  resist,  he  will  be  drawn  to 
Jesus ;  a  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  sal¬ 
vation  will  lead  him  to  the  foot  of  the 
cross  in  repentance  for  his  sins,  which 
have  caused  the  sufferings  of  God’s  dear 
Son. 

The  same  divine  mind  that  is  working 
upon  the  things  of  nature  is  speaking  to 


A  knowledge  of  the 
plan  of  salvation  will 
lead  him  to  the  foot  of 
the  cross 


32 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


Conn*,  and 
“take  the 
wa»f*r  of 
life  freely.” 


the  hearts  of  men,  and  creating  an  inexpressible  cra¬ 
ving  for  something  they  have  not.  The  things  of  the 
world  can  not  satisfy  their  longing.  The  Spirit  of 
God  is  pleading  with  them  to  seek  for  those  things 
that  alone  can  give  peace  and  rest, —  the  grace  of 
Christ,  the  joy  of  holiness.  Through  influences  seen 
and  unseen,  our  Saviour  is  constantly  at  work  to  at¬ 
tract  the  minds  of  men  from  the  unsatisfying 
pleasures  of  sin  to  the  infinite  blessings  that 

i 

may  be  theirs  in  Him.  To  all  these  souls, 
who  are  vainly  seeking  to  drink  from  the 
broken  cisterns  of  this  world,  the 
divine  message  is  addressed,  “  Let 
him  that  is  athirst  come.  And  who¬ 
soever  will,  let  him  take  the  water 
of  life  freely.”  1 

You  who  in  heart  long  for  some¬ 
thing  better  than  this  world  can  give, 

wc- 


recognize  this  longing  as  the  voice 
of  God  to  your  soul.  Ask  Him  to  give 
you  repentance,  to  reveal  Christ  to  you  in  His  infinite 
love,  vin  His  perfect  purity.  In  the  Saviour’s  life  the 
principles  of  God’s  law  —  love  to  God  and  man  —  were 
perfectly  exemplified.  Benevolence,  unselfish  love,  was 
the  life  of  His  soul.  It  is  as  we  behold  Him,  as  the 
light  from  our  Saviour  falls  upon  us,  that  we  see  the 
sinfulness  of  our  own  hearts. 


We  may  have  flattered  ourselves,  as  did  Nicodemus, 
that  our  life  has  been  upright,  that  our  moral  char¬ 
acter  is  correct,  and  think  that  we  need  not  humble 

]  Rev.  22:  17. 


REPENTANCE 


33 


the  heart  before  God,  like  the  common  sinner :  but 
when  the  light  from  Christ  shines  into  our  souls,  we 
shall  see  how  impure  we  are ;  we  shall  discern  the 
selfishness  of  motive,  the  enmity  against  God,  that  has 
defiled  every  act  of  life.  Then  we  shall  know  that  our 
own  righteousness  is  indeed  as  filthy  rags,  and  that 
the  blood  of  Christ  alone  can  cleanse  us  from  the 
defilement  of  sin,  and  renew  our  hearts  in  His  own 
likeness. 

One  ray  of  the  glory  of  God,  one  gleam  of  the 
purity  of  Christ,  penetrating  the  soul,  makes  every 
spot  of  defilement  painfully  distinct,  and  lays  bare 
the  deformity  and  defects  of  the  human  character.  It 
makes  apparent  the  unhallowed  desires,  the  infidelity 
of  the  heart,  the  impurity  of  the  lips.  The  sinner’s 
acts  of  disloyalty  in  making  void  the  law  of  God,  are 
exposed  to  his  sight,  and  his  spirit  is  stricken  and 
afflicted  under  the  searching  influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God;  He  loathes  himself  as  he  views  the  pure,  spot¬ 
less  character  of  Christ. 

When  the  prophet  Daniel  beheld 
the  glory  surrounding  the  heavenly 
messenger  that  was  sent  unto  him,  he 
was  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  his 
own  weakness  and  imperfection.  De¬ 
scribing  the  effect  of  the  wonderful 
scene,  he  says,  “  There  remained  no 
strength  in  me :  for  my  comeliness  was 
turned  in  me  into  corruption,  and  I 
retained  no  strength.”  1  The  soul  thus 

1  Dan.  io :  8. 

<1  Then  shall  we  know  that  ^ 

our  own  righteousness 
is  indeed  as  filthy  rags 


34 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


‘God  be  mer¬ 
ciful  to  me  a 
sinner.” 


touched  will  hate  its  selfishness,  abhor  its  self-love, 
and  will  seek,  through  Christ’s  righteousness,  for  the 
purity  of  heart  that  is  in  harmony  with  the  law  of  God 
and  the  character  of  Christ. 

Paul  says  that  as  “  touching  the  righteousness 
which  is  in  the  law,” —  as  far  as  outward  acts  were 
concerned, —  he  was  “  blameless  ;  ”  1  but  when  the 
spiritual  character  of  the  law  was  discerned,  he  saw 
himself  a  sinner.  Judged  by  the  letter  of  the  law  as 
men  apply  it  to  the  outward  life,  he  had  abstained 
from  sin ;  but  when  he  looked  into  the  depths  of  its 
holy  precepts,  and  saw  himself  as  God  saw  him,  he 
bowed  in  humiliation,  and  confessed  his  guilt.  He 
says,  “  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once :  but  when 
the  commandment  came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died.” 2 
When  he  saw  the  spiritual  nature  of  the  law,  sin 
appeared  in  its  true  hideousness,  and  his  self-esteem 
was  gone. 

God  does  not  regard  all  sins  as  of  equal  magni¬ 
tude  ;  there  are  degrees  of  guilt  in  His  estimation,  as 
well  as  in  that  of  man  ;  but  however  trifling 
this  or  that  wrong  act  may  seem  in  the 
eyes  of  men,  no  sin  is  small  in  the  sight 
of  God.  Man’s  judgment  is  partial, 
imperfect ;  but  God  estimates  all 
things  as  they  really  are.  The  drunk¬ 
ard  is  despised,  and  is  told  that  his  sin 
will  exclude  him  from  heaven ;  while 
pride,  selfishness,  and  covetousness  too 
often  go  unrebuked.  But  these  are  sins 

1  Phil.  3 :  6.  2  Rom.  7:9. 


REPENTANCE 


35 


that  are  especially  offensive  to  God ;  for  they  are 
contrary  to  the  benevolence  of  His  character,  to  that 
unselfish  love  which  is  the  very  atmosphere  of  the 
unfallen  universe.  He  who  falls  into  some  of  the 
grosser  sins  may  feel  a  sense  of  his  shame  and.  pov¬ 
erty  and  his  need  of  the  grace  of  Christ ;  but  pride 
feels  no  need,  and  so  it  closes  the  heart  against  Christ, 
and  the  infinite  blessings  He  came  to  give. 

The  poor  publican  who  prayed,  “  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner,”  1  regarded  himself  as  a  very 
wicked  man,  and  others  looked  upon  him  in 
the  same  light ;  but  he  felt  his  need,  and 
with  his  burden  of  guilt  and  shame  he 
came  before  God,  asking  for  His  mercy. 

His  heart  was  open  for  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  do  its  gracious  work,  and  set 
him  free  from  the  power  of  sin.  The 
Pharisee’s  boastful,  self-righteous  prayer 
showed  that  his  heart  was  closed  against 
the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Be¬ 
cause  of  his  distance  from  God,  he  had 
no  sense  of  his  own  defilement,  in  contrast 
with  the  perfection  of  the  divine  holiness. 

He  felt  no  need,  and  he  received  nothing. 

If  you  see  your  sinfulness,  do  not  wait  to  make 
yourself  better.  How  many  there  are  who  think  they 
are  not  good  enough  to  come  to  Christ.  Do  you  expect 
to  become  better  through  your  own  efforts  ?  “  Can  the 
Ethiopian  change  his  skin,  or  the  leopard  his  spots? 
then  may  ye  also  do  good,  that  are  accustomed  to  do 

1  Luke  18:  13. 


The  Pharisee's 
boastful  prayer 
showed  that 
his  heart  was 
closed 


36 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


evil.”  1  There  is  help  for  ns  only  in  God.  We  must 
not  wait  for  stronger  persuasions,  for  better  opportu¬ 
nities,  or  for  holier  tempers.  We  can  do  nothing  of 
ourselves.  We  must  come  to  Christ  just  as  we  are. 

But  let  none  deceive  themselves  with  the  thought 
that  God,  in  His  great  love  and  mercy,  will  yet  save 
even  the  rejecters  of  His  grace.  The  exceeding  sin¬ 
fulness  of  sin  can  be  estimated  only  in  the  light  . of  the 
cross.  When  men  urge  that  God  is  too  good  to  cast 
off  the  sinner,  let  them  look  to  Calvary.  It  was  because 
there  was  no  other  way  in  which  man  could  be  saved, 
because  without  this  sacrifice  it  was  impossible  for 
the  human  race  to  escape  from  the  defiling  power  of 
sin,  and  be  restored  to  communion  with  holy  beings, — 
impossible  for  them  again  to  become  partakers  of  spir¬ 
itual  life, —  it  was  because  of  this  that  Christ  took 
upon  Himself  the  guilt  of  the  disobedient,  and  suffered 
in  the  sinner’s  stead.  The  love  and  suffering  and 
death  of  the  Son  of  God,  all  testify  to  the  terrible 
enormity  of  sin,  and  declare  that  there  is  no  escape 
from  its  power,  no  hope  of  the  higher  life,  but  through 
the  submission  of  the  soul  to  Christ. 

The  impenitent  sometimes  excuse  themselves  by 
saying  of  professed  Christians,  “  I  am  as  good  as  they 
are.  They  are  no  more  self-denying,  sober,  or  circum¬ 
spect  in  their  conduct  than  I  am.  They  love  pleasure 
and  self-indulgence  as  well  as  I  do.”  Thus  they  make 
the  faults  of  others  an  excuse  for  their  own  neglect  of 
duty.  But  the  sins  and  defects  of  others  do  not  excuse 
any  one ;  for  the  Lord  has  not  given  us  an  erring, 

1  Jer.  13:  23. 


REPENTANCE 


37 


So  small  a  matter  as  eating  of  the 
forbidden  fruit 


human  pattern.  The  spotless  Son  of  God  has  been 
given  as  our  example,  and  those  who  complain  of  the 
wrong  course  of  professed  Christians  are  the  ones 
who  should  show  better  lives  and  nobler  examples.  If 
they  have  so  high  a  conception  of  what  a  Christian 
should  be,  is  not  their  own  sin  so  much  the  greater? 
They  know  what  is  right, 
and  yet  refuse  to  do  it. 

Beware  of  pro¬ 
crastination.  Do  not 
put  off  the  work  of 
forsaking  your 
sins,  and  seeking 
purity  of  heart 
t  h  r  ou  g  h  Jesus. 

Here  is  where  thousands  upon  thousands  have  erred, 
to  their  eternal  loss.  I  will  not  here  dwell  upon  the 
shortness  and  uncertainty  of  life ;  but  there  is  a  ter¬ 
rible  danger  —  a  danger  not  sufficiently  understood 
—  in  delaying  to  yield  to  the  pleading  voice  of  God's 
Holy  Spirit,  in  choosing  to  live  in  sin ;  for  such 
this  delay  really  is.  Sin,  however  small  it  may  be 
esteemed,  can  be  indulged  in  only  at  the  peril  of  infinite 
loss.  What  we  do  not  overcome,  will  overcome  us, 
and  work  out  our  destruction. 

Adam  and  Eve  persuaded  themselves  that  in  so 
small  a  matter  as  eating  of  the  forbidden  fruit,  there 
could  not  result  such  terrible  consequences  as  God 
had  declared.  But  this  small  matter  was  the  trans¬ 
gression  of  God’s  immutable  and  holy  law,  and  it 


3§ 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


separated  man  from  God,  and  opened  the  flood-gates 
of  death  and  untold  woe  upon  our  world.  Age  after 
age  there  has  gone  up  from  our  earth  a  continual 
cry  of  mourning,  and  the  whole  creation  groaneth 
and  travaileth  together  in  pain,  as  a  consequence  of 
man’s  disobedience.  Heaven  itself  has  felt  the  effects 
of  his  rebellion  against  God.  Calvary  stands  as  a 
memorial  of  the  amazing  sacrifice  required  to  atone 
for  the  transgression  of  the  divine  law.  Let  us'  not 
regard  sin  as  a  trivial  thing. 

Every  act  of  transgression,  every  neglect  or  rejec¬ 
tion  of  the  grace  of  Christ,  is  reacting  upon  yourself ; 
it  is  hardening  the  heart,  depraving  the  will,  benumb¬ 
ing  the  understanding,  and  not  only  making  you  less 
inclined  to  yield,  but  less  capable  of  yielding,  to  the 
tender  pleading  of  God's  Holy  Spirit. 

Many  are  quieting  a  troubled  conscience  with 
the  thought  that  they  can  change  a  course  of  evil 
when  they  choose ;  that  they  can  trifle  with  the  invita¬ 
tions  of  mercy,  and  yet  be  again  and  again  impressed. 
They  think  that  after  doing  despite  to  the  Spirit  of 
grace,  after  casting  their  influence  on  the  side  of 
Satan,  in  a  moment  of  terrible  extremity  they  can 
change  their  course.  But  this  is  not  so  easily  done. 
The  experience,  the  education,  of  a  lifetime,  has  so 
thoroughly  molded  the  character  that  few  then  desire 
to  receive  the  image  of  Jesus. 

Even  one  wrong  trait  of  character,  one  sinful 
desire,  persistently  cherished,  will  eventually  neutralize 
all  the  power  of  the  gospel.  Every  sinful  indulgence 


REPENTANCE 


39 


strengthens  the  soul’s  aversion  to  God.  The  man  who 
manifests  an  infidel  hardihood,  or  a  stolid  indifference 
to  divine  truth,  is  but  reaping  the  harvest  of  that  which 
he  has  himself  sown.  In  all  the  Bible  there  is  not  a 
more  fearful  warning  against  trifling  with  evil  than 
the  words  of  the  wise  man,  that  the  sinner  “  shall  be 
holden  with  the  cords  of  his  sins/’ 1 

Christ  is  ready  to  set  us  free  from  sin,  but  He 
does  not  force  the  will ;  and  if  by  persistent  trans¬ 
gression  the  will  itself  is  wholly  bent  on  evil,  and  we 
do  not  desire  to  be  set  free,  if  we  will  not  accept  His 
grace,  what  more  can  He  do?  We  have  destroyed 
ourselves  by  our  determined  rejection  of  His  love. 
“  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time ;  behold,  now  is 
the  day  of  salvation/’  “  To-day  if  ye  will  hear  His 
voice,  harden  not  your  hearts.”  2 

“  Man  looketh  on  the  outward  appearance,  but  the 
Lord  looketh  on  the  heart,”  3  the  human  heart,  with 
its  conflicting  emotions  of  joy  and  sorrow,  the  wan¬ 
dering,  wayward  heart,  which  is  the  abode  of  so  much 
impurity  and  deceit.  He  knows  its  motives,  its  very 
intents  and  purposes.  Go  to  Him  with  your  soul  all 
stained  as  it  is.  Like  the  Psalmist,  throw  its  chambers 
open  to  the  all-seeing  eye,  exclaiming,  “  Search  me,  O 
God,  and  know  my  heart :  try  me,  and  know  my 
thoughts :  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me, 
and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.”  4 

Many  accept  an  intellectual  religion,  a  form  of 
godliness,  when  the  heart  is  not  cleansed.  Let  it  be 
your  prayer,  “  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God ; 

Prov.  5:  22.  2  2  Cor.  6:2;  Heb.  3:  7,  8.  3  1  Sam.  16:  7. 

4  Ps.  139:  23,  24. 


4o 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.” 1  Deal  truly 
with  your  own  soul.  Be  as  earnest,  as  persistent,  as 
you  would  be  if  your  mortal  life  were  at  stake.  This 
is  a  matter  to  be  settled  between  God  and  your  own 
soul,  settled  for  eternity.  A  supposed  hope,  and  noth¬ 
ing  more,  will  prove  your  ruin. 

Study  God’s  Word  prayerfully.  That  Word  pre¬ 
sents  before  you,  in  the  law  of  God  and  the  life  of 
Christ,  the  great  principles  of  holiness,  without  which 
“  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.”  2  It  convinces  of  sin ; 
it  plainly  reveals  the  way  of  salvation.  Give  heed  to 
it,  as  the  voice  of  God  speaking  to  your  soul. 

As  you  see  the  enormity  of  sin,  as  you  see  your¬ 
self  as  you  really  are,  do  not  give  up  to  despair.  It 
was  sinners  that  Christ  came  to  save.  We  have  not 
to  reconcile  God  to  us,  but  —  O  wondrous  love !  — 
God  in  Christ  is  “  reconciling  the  world  unto  Him¬ 
self.”  3  He  is  wooing  by  His  tender  love  the  hearts 
of  His  erring  children.  No  earthly  parent  could  be 
as  patient  with  the  faults  and  mistakes  of  his  children, 
as  is  God  with  those  He  seeks  to  save.  No  one  could 

plead  more  tenderly  with  the  trans¬ 
gressor.  No  human  lips  ever 
poured  out  more  tender  entreaties 
to  the  wanderer  than  does  Hq. 
All  His  promises,  His  warnings, 
are  but  the  breathing  of  unut- 
terable  love. 

When  Satan  comes  to  tell 
you  that  you  are  a  great  sinner, 


The  voice  of  God 
speaking  to  your  soul 


Ps.  5  x :  io. 


Heb. 


12 :  T4. 


3  2  Cor.  5:19. 


REPENTANCE 


41 

look  lip  to  your  Redeemer,  and  talk  of  His  merits. 
That  which  will  help  you  is  to  look  to  His  light. 
Acknowledge  your  sin,  but  tell  the  enemy  that 
“  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,”  1 
and  that  you  may  be  saved  by  His  matchless  love. 
Jesus  asked  Simon  a  question  in  regard  to  two  debtors. 
One  owed  his  lord  a  small  sum,  and  the  other  owed 
him  a  very  large  sum ;  but  he  forgave  them  both,  and 
Christ  asked  Simon  which  debtor  would  love  his  lord 
most.  Simon  answered,  “  He  to  whom  he  forgave 
most.”  2  We  have  been  great  sinners,  but  Christ  died 
that  we  might  be  forgiven.  The  merits  of  His  sac¬ 
rifice  are  sufficient  to  present  to  the  Father  in  our 
behalf.  Those  to  whom  He  has  forgiven  most  will 
love  Him  most,  and  will  stand  nearest  His  throne  to 
praise  Him  for  His  great  love  and  infinite  sacrifice. 
It  is  when  we  most  fully  comprehend  the  love  of  God 
that  we  best  realize  the  sinfulness  of  sin.  When  we 
see  the  length  of  the  chain  that  was  let  down  for  us, 
when  we  understand  something  of  the  infinite  sacrifice 
that  Christ  has  made  in  our  behalf,  the  heart  is  melted 
with  tenderness  and  contrition. 

1  1  Tim.  1:15.  3  Luke  7 :  43. 


/ 


Confession 


HE  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper :  but 
whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them  shall  have 
mercy.”  1 

The  conditions  of  obtaining  mercy  of  God,  are 
simple  and  just  and  reasonable.  The  Lord  does  not 
require  us  to  do  some  grievous  thing  in  order  that  we 
may  have  the  forgiveness  of  sin.  We  need  not  make 
long  and  wearisome  pilgrimages,  or  perform  painful 
penances,  to  commend  our  souls  to  the  God  of  heaven 
or  to  expiate  our  transgression ;  but  he  that  confesseth 
and  forsaketh  his  sin  shall  have  mercy. 

The  apostle  says,  “  Confess  your  faults  one  to 
another,  and  pray  one  for  another,  that  ye  may  be 
healed.”  2  Confess  your  sins  to  God,  who  only  can 
forgive  them,  and  your  faults  to  one  another.  If  you 
have  given  offense  to  your  friend  or  neighbor,  you 
are  to  acknowledge  your  wrong,  and  it  is  his  duty 
freely  to  forgive  you.  Then  you  are  to  seek  the  for¬ 
giveness  of  God,  because  the  brother  you  have  wounded 
is  the  property  of  God,  and  in  injuring 
him  you  sinned  against  his  Creator  and 
Redeemer.  The  case  is  brought  before 
the  only  true  Mediator,  our  great  High 
Priest,  who  “  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin,”  and 
who  is  “  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities,”  3  and  is  able  to  cleanse 
from  every  stain  of  iniquity. 

Those  who  have  not  humbled  their 

1  Prov.  2?:  13.  2  James  5:  16. 

3  JTeh.  4:15. 


We  need  not 
make  long  and 
wearisome  ^pil¬ 
grimages 


CONFESSION 


43 


souls  before  God  in  acknowledging  their  guilt,  have 
not  yet  fulfilled  the  first  condition  of  acceptance.  If 
we  have  not  experienced  that  repentance  which  is  not 
to  be  repented  of,  and  have  not  with  true  humiliation 
of  soul  and  brokenness  of  spirit  confessed  our  sins, 
abhorring  our  iniquity,  we  have  never  truly  sought  for 
the  forgiveness  of  sin ;  and  if  we  have  never  sought, 
we  have  never  found  the  peace  of  God.  The  only 
reason  why  we  do  not  have  remission  of  sins  that  are 
past  is  that  we  are  not  willing  to  humble  our  hearts 
and  comply  with  the  conditions  of  the  word  of  truth. 
Explicit  instruction  is  given  concerning  this  matter. 
Confession  of  sin,  whether  public  or  private,  should 
be  heartfelt,  and  freely  expressed.  It  is  not  to  be  urged 
from  the  sinner.  It  is  not  to  be  made  in  a  flippant  and 
careless  way,  or  forced  from  those  who  have  no  real¬ 
izing  sense  of  the  abhorrent  character  of  sin.  The  con¬ 
fession  that  is  the  outpouring  of  the  inmost  soul  finds 
its  way  to  the  God  of  infinite  pity.  The  Psalmist  says, 

“  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken 
heart;  and  saveth  such  as  be  of  a  contrite  spirit.”1 

True  confession  is  always  of  a  specific  character, 
and  acknowledges  particular  sins.  They  may 
be  of  .such  a  nature  as  to  be  brought  before 
God  only ;  they  may  be  wrongs  that 
should  be  confessed  to  individuals  who 
have  suffered  injury  through  them ; 
or  they  may  be  of  a  public  character, 
and  should  -then  be  as  publicly  con¬ 
fessed.  But  all  confession  should  be 
definite  and  to  the  point,  acknowledg¬ 
ing  the  very  sins  of  which  you  are 
guilty. 

1  Ps.  34  :  1 8. 

penances 


44 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


In  the  days  of  Samuel,  the  Israelites  wandered 
from  God.  They  were  suffering  the  consequences  of 
sin ;  for  they  had  lost  their  faith  in  God,  lost  their 
discernment  of  His  power  and  wisdom  to  rule  the 
nation,  lost  their  confidence  in  His  ability  to  defend 
and  vindicate  His  cause.  They  turned  from  the  great 
Ruler  of  the  universe,  and  desired  to  be  governed  as 
were  the  nations  around  them.  Before  they  found 
peace,  they  made  this  definite  confession:  “We  have 
added  unto  all  our  sins  this  evil,  to  ask  us  a  king.”  1 
The  very  sin  of  which  they  were  convicted  had  to  be 
confessed.  Their  ingratitude  oppressed  their  souls, 
and  severed  them  from  God. 

Confession  will  not  be  acceptable  to  God  without 
sincere  repentance  and  reformation.  There  must  be 
decided  changes  in  the  life ;  everything  offensive  to 
God  must  be  put  away.  This  will  be  the  result  of 
genuine  sorrow  for  sin.  The  work  that  we  have  to 
do  on  our  part  is  plainly  set  before  us :  “  Wash  you, 
make  you  clean ;  put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings 
from  before  Mine  eyes ;  cease  to  do  evil ;  learn  to  do 
well;  seek  judgment,  relieve  the  oppressed,  judge  the 
fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow.”  2  “  If  the  wicked 

restore  the  pledge,  give  again  that  he  had  robbed,  walk 
in  the  statutes  of  life,  without  committing  iniquity ; 
he  shall  surely  live,  he  shall  not  die.”  3  Paul  says, 
speaking  of  the  work  of  repentance :  “Ye  sorrowed 
after  a  godly  sort,  what  carefulness  it  wrought  in 
you,  yea,  what  clearing  of  yourselves,  yea,  what  indig¬ 
nation,  yea,  what  fear,  yea,  what  vehement  desire, 
yea,  what  zeal,  yea,  what  revenge !  In  all  things  ye 
have  approved  yourselves  to  be  clear  in  this  matter.”  4 

When  sin  has  deadened  the  moral  perceptions,  the 

1  i  Sam.  12:  19.  2  Isa.  i:  16,  17. 

3  Eze.  33:  15.  4  2  Cor.  7:11. 


CONFESSION 


45 


wrong-doer  does  not  discern  the  defects  of  his  char¬ 
acter,  nor  realize  the  enormity  of  the  evil  he  has 
committed ;  and  unless  he  yields  to  the  convicting 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  remains  in  partial  blind¬ 
ness  to  his  sin.  His  confessions  are  not  sincere  and 
in  earnest.  To  every  acknowledgment  of  his  guilt  he 
adds  an  apology  in  excuse  of  his  course,  declaring 
that  if  it  had  not  been  for  certain  circumstances,  he 
would  not  have  done  this  or  that,  for  which  he  is 
reproved. 

After  Adam  and  Eve  had  eaten  of  the  forbidden 
fruit,  they  were  filled  with  a  sense  of  shame  and  terror. 
At  first  their  only  thought  was  how  to  excuse  their 
sin,  and  escape  the  dreaded  sentence  of  death.  When 
the  Lord  inquired  concerning  their  sin,  Adam  replied, 
laying  the  guilt  partly  upon  God  and  partly  upon  his 
companion :  “  The  woman  whom  Thou  gavest  to  be 
with  me,  she  gave  me  of  the  tree,  and  I  did  eat."  The 
woman  put  the  blame  upon  the  serpent,  saying,  “  The 
serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I  did  eat.”  1  Why  did  You 
make  the  serpent?  Why  did  You  suffer  him  to  come 
into  Eden?  These  were  the  questions  implied  in  her 
excuse  for  her  sin,  thus  charging  God  with  the  respon¬ 
sibility  of  their  fall.  The  spirit  of  self-justification 
originated  in  the  father  of  lies,  and  has  been  exhibited 
by  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Adam.  Confessions 
of  this  order  are  not  inspired  by  the  divine  Spirit,  and 
will  not  be  acceptable  to  God.  True  repentance  will 
lead  a  man  to  bear  his  guilt  himself,  and  acknowledge 
it  without  deception  or  hypocrisy.  Like  the  poor  pub¬ 
lican,  not  lifting  up  so  much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven, 
he  will  cry,  “  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner ;  ”  and 
those  who  do  acknowledge  their  guilt  will  be  justified ; 

1  Gen.  3 :  12,  13. 


46 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


for  Jesus  will  plead  His  blood  in  behalf  of  the  repent¬ 
ant  soul. 

The  examples  in  God’s  Word  of  genuine  repent¬ 
ance  and  humiliation  reveal  a  spirit  of  confession  in 
which  there  is  no  excuse  for  sin,  or  attempt  at  self¬ 
justification.  Paul  did  not  seek  to  shield  himself;  he 
paints  his  sin  in  its  darkest  hue,  not  attempting  to 
lessen  his  guilt.  He  says :  “  Many  of  the  saints  did 
I  shut  up  in  prison,  having  received  authority  from 
the  chief  priests ;  and  when  they  were  put  to  death, 
I  gave  my  voice  against  them.  Arid  I  punished  them 
oft  in  every  synagogue,  and  compelled  them  to  blas¬ 
pheme  ;  and  being  exceedingly  mad  against  them,  I 
persecuted  them  even  unto  strange  cities.”  1  He  does 
not  hesitate  to  declare  that  “  Christ  Jesus  came  into 
the  world  to  save  sinners ;  of  whom  I  am  chief.”  2 

The  humble  and  broken  heart,  subdued  by  genu¬ 
ine  repentance,  will  appreciate  something  of  the  love 
of  God  and  the  cost  of  Calvary ;  and  as  a  son  confesses 
to  a  loving  father,  so  will  the  truly  penitent  bring  all 
his  sins  before  God.  And  it  is  written,  “  If  we  confess 
our  sins,  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins, 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.”  3 

1  Acts  26:  10,  11.  2  1  Tim.  1:  15. 


3  1  John  1 :  9. 


Consecration 

GOD’S  promise  is,  “  Ye  shall  seek  Me,  and  find 
Me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  Me  with  all  your 
heart.”  1 

The  whole  heart  must  be  yielded  to  God,  or  the 
change  can  never  be  wrought  in  us  by  which  we  are 
to  be  restored  to  His  likeness.  By  nature  we  are 
alienated  from  God.  The  Holy  Spirit  describes  our 
condition  in  such  words  as  these :  “  Dead  in  tres¬ 
passes  and  sins ;  ”  “  the  whole  head  is  sick,  and  the 
whole  heart  faint;”  “no  soundness  in  it.”  We  are 
held  fast  in  the  snare  of  Satan ;  “  taken  captive  by 
him  at  his  will.”  2  God  desires  to  heal  us,  to  set  us 
free.  But  since  this  requires  an  entire  transforma¬ 
tion,  a  renewing  of  our  whole  nature,  we  must  yield 
ourselves  wholly  to  Him. 

The  warfare  against  self  is  the 
greatest  battle  that  was  ever 
fought.  The  yielding  of  self, 
surrendering  all  to  the  will  of 
God,  requires  a  struggle ;  but 
the  soul  must  submit  to  God  ^ 
before  it  can  be  renewed  in 
holiness. 

The  government  of  God 
is  not,  as  Satan  would  make 
it  appear,  founded  upon  a 

1  Jer.  29:  13. 

Eph.  2:  1;  Isa.  1:5,  6;  2  Tim,  2:  26. 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


48 


The  love  of 
money  is  the 
golden  chain 
that  binds 
them  to 
Satan 


blind  submission,  an  unreasoning  control.  It  appeals 
to  the  intellect  and  the  conscience.  “  Come  now,  and 
let  us  reason  together,”  1  is  the  Creator’s  invitation 
to  the  beings  He  has  made.  God  does  not  force  the 
will  of  His  creatures.  He  can  not  accept  an  homage 
that  is  not  willingly  and  intelligently  given.  A  mere 
forced  submission  would  prevent  all  real  develop¬ 
ment  of  mind  or  character ;  it  would  make  man  a 
mere  automaton.  Such  is  not  the  purpose  of  the 
Creator.  He  desires  that  man,  the  crowning  work  of 
His  creative  power,  shall  reach  the  highest  possible 
development.  He  sets  before  us  the  height  of  bless¬ 
ing  to  which  He  desires  to  bring  us  through  His 
grace.  He  invites  us  to  give  ourselves  to  Him,  that 
He  may  work  His  will  in  us.  It  remains  for  us  to 
choose  whether  we  will  be  set  free  from  the  bondage 
of  sin,  to  share  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of 
God. 

In  giving  ourselves  to  God,  we  must  necessarily 
give  up  all  that  would  separate  us  from  Him.  Hence 
the  Saviour  says,  “  Whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  for- 
saketh  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  can  not  be  My  dis¬ 
ciple.”  2  Whatever  shall  draw  away  the  heart 
from  God  must  be  given  up.  Mammon  is 
the  idol  of  many.  The  love  of  money, 
the  desire  for  wealth,  is  the  golden  chain 
that  binds  them  to  Satan.  Reputation 
and  worldly  honor  are  worshiped  by  an¬ 
other  class.  The  life  of  selfish  ease  and 
freedom  from  responsibility  is  the  idol  of 

1  Isa,  1:18,  2  Luke  14:  33. 


CONSECRATION 


49 


others.  But  these  slavish  bands  must  be  broken.  We 
can  not  be  half  the'  Lord's  and  half  the  world’s. 
We  are  not  God’s  children  unless  we  are  such  entirely. 
There  are  those  who  profess  to  serve  God,  while  they 
rely  upon  their  own  efforts  to  obey  His  law,  to  form 
a  right  character,  and  secure  salvation.  Their  hearts 
are  not  moved  by  any  deep  sense  of  the  love  of  Christ, 
but  they  seek  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  Christian 
life  as  that  which  God  requires  of  them  in  order  to 
gain  heaven.  Such  religion  is  worth  nothing.  When 
Christ  dwells  in  the  heart,  the  soul  will  be  so  filled 
with  His  love,  with  the  joy  of  communion  with  Him, 
that  it  will  cleave  to  Him ;  and  in  the  contemplation 
of  Him,  self  will  be  forgotten.  Love  to  Christ  will 
be  the  spring  of  action.  Those  who  feel  the  constrain¬ 
ing  love  of  God,  do  not  ask  how  little  may  be  given 
to  meet  the  requirements  of  God ;  they  do  not  ask 
for  the  lowest  standard,  but  aim  at  perfect  conformity 
to  the  will  of  their  Redeemer.  With  earnest  desire 
they  yield  all,  and  manifest  an  interest  proportionate 
to  the  value  of  the  object  which  they  seek.  A  profes¬ 
sion  of  Christ  without  this  deep  love,  is  mere  talk,  dry 
formality,  and  heavy  drudgery. 

Do  you  feel  that  it  is  too  great  a  sacrifice  to  yield 
all  to  Christ  ?  Ask  yourself  the  question,  “  What  has 
Christ  given  for  me?”  The  Son  of  God  gave  all  — 
life  and  love  and  suffering  —  for  our  redemption. 
And  can  it  be  that  we,  the  unworthy  objects  of  so 
great  love,  will  withhold  our  hearts  from  Him  ?  Every 
moment  of  our  lives  we  have  been  partakers  of  the 
4 


50 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


blessings  of  His  grace,  and  for  this  very  reason  we 
can  not  fully  realize  the  depths  of  ignorance  and 
misery  from  which  we  have  been  saved.  Can  we  look 
upon  Him  whom  our  sins  have  pierced,  and  yet  be 
willing  to  do  despite  to  all  His  love  and  sacrifice? 

In  view  of  the  infinite  humiliation  of  the  Lord 
of  glory,  shall  we  murmur  because  we  can  enter 
into  life  only  through  conflict  and  self- 
abasement  ? 

The  inquiry  of  many  a  proud  heart 
is,  “  Why  need  I  go  in  penitence  and 
humiliation  before  I  can  have  the  assur¬ 
ance  of  my  acceptance  with  God  ?  ”  I 
point  you  to  Christ.  He’  was  sinless, 
and,  more  than  this,  He  was  the  Prince  of 
heaven  ;  but  in  man’s  behalf  He  became 
sin  for  the  race.  “  He  was  numbered  with 
the  transgressors ;  and  He  bare  the  sin 
of  many,  and  made  intercession  for  the 
transgressors.”  1 

But  what  do  we  give  up,  when  we  give 
all? — 'A  sin-polluted  heart,  for  Jesus  to  purify, 
to  cleanse  bv  His  own  blood,  and  to  save  by  His 
matchless  love.  And  yet  men  think  it  hard  to  give 
up  all !  I  am  ashamed  to  hear  it  spoken  of,  ashamed 
to  write  it. 

God  does  not  require  us  to  give  up  anything  that 
it  is  for  our  best  interest  to  retain.  In  all  that  He 
does,  He  has  the  well-being  of  His  children  in  view. 
Would  that  all  who  have  not  chosen  Christ  might 
realize  that  He  has  something  vastly  better  to  offer 

1  Isa.  53:  12. 


Can  we  look 
upon  Him, 
and  yet  be 
willing  to  do 
despite  to  His 
sacrifice? 


CONSECRATION 


51 


them  than  they  are  seeking  for  themselves.  Man  is 
doing  the  greatest  injury  and  injustice  to  his  own 
soul  when  he  thinks  and  acts  contrary  to  the  will  of 
God.  No  real  joy  can  be  found  in  the  path  forbidden 
by  Him  who  knows  what  is  best,  and  who  plans  for 
the  good  of  His  creatures.  The  path  of  transgression 
is  the  path  of  misery  and  destruction. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  entertain  the  thought  that  God 
is  pleased  to  see  His  children  suffer.  All  Heaven  is 
interested  in  the  happiness  of  man.  Our  heavenly 
Father  does  not  close  the  avenues  of  joy  to  any  of 
His  creatures.  The  divine  requirements  call  upon  us 
to  shun  those  indulgences  that  would  bring  suffering 
and  disappointment,  that  would  close  to  us  the  door 
of  happiness  and  heaven.  The  world’s  Redeemer 
accepts  men  as  they  are,  with  all  their  wants,  imper¬ 
fections,  and  weaknesses ;  and  He  will  not  only  cleanse 
from  sin  and  grant  redemption  through  His  blood, 
but  will  satisfy  the  heart-longing  of  all  who  consent 
to  wear  His  yoke,  to  bear  His  burden.  It  is  His  pur¬ 
pose  to  impart  peace  and  rest  to  all  who  come  to  Him 
for  the  bread  of  life.  He  requires  us  to  perform  only 
those  duties  that  will  lead  our  steps  to  heights  of  bliss 
to  which  the  disobedient  can  never  attain.  The  true, 
joyous  life  of  the  soul  is  to  have  Christ  formed  within, 
the  hope  of  glory. 

Many  are  inquiring,  “  How  am  I  to  make  the  sur¬ 
render  of  myself  to  God?  ”  You  desire  to  give  your¬ 
self  to  Him,  but  you  are  weak  in  moral  power,  in 
slavery  to  doubt,  and  controlled  by  the  habits  of  your 
life  of  sin.  Your  promises  and  resolutions  are  like 


52 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


ropes  of  sand.  You  can  not  control  your  thoughts, 
your  impulses,  your  affections.  The  knowledge  of 
your  broken  promises  and  forfeited  pledges  weakens 
your  confidence  in  your  own  sincerity,  and  causes  you 
to  feel  that  God  can  not  accept  you ;  but  you  need  not 
despair.  What  you  need  to  understand  is  the  true 
force  of  the  will.  This  is  the  governing  power  in  the 
nature  of  man,  the  power  of  decision,  or  of  choice. 
Everything  depends  on  the  right  action  of  the  will. 
The  power  of  choice  God  has  given  to  men ;  it  is  theirs 
to  exercise.  You  can  not  change  your  heart,  you 
can  not  of  yourself  give  to  God  its  affections ;  but 
you  can  choose  to  serve  Him.  You  can  give  Him 
your  will ;  He  will  then  work  in  you  to  will  and  to  do 
according  to  His  good  pleasure.  Thus  your  whole 
nature  will  be  brought  under  the  control  of  the  Spirit 
of  Christ;  your  affections  will  be  centered  upon  Him, 
your  thoughts  will  be  in  harmony  with  Him. 

Desires  for  goodness  and  holiness  are  right  as 
far  as  they  go;  but  if  you  stop  here,  they  will  avail 
nothing.  Many  will  be  lost  while  hoping  and  desiring 
to  be  Christians.  They  do  not  come  to  the  point  of 
yielding  the  will  to  God.  They  do  not  now  choose 
to  be  Christians. 

Through  the  right  exercise  of  the  will,  an  entire 
change  may  be  made  in  your  life.  By  yielding  up 
your  will  to  Christ,  you  ally  yourself  with  the  power 
that  is  above  all  principalities  and  powers.  You  will 
have  strength  from  above  to  hold  you  steadfast,  and 
thus  through  constant  surrender  to  God  you  will  be 
enabled  to  live  the  new  life,  even  the  life  of  faith. 


Faith  And  Acceptance 

AS  your  conscience  has  been  quickened  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  you  have  seen  something  of  the  evil  of 
sin,  of  its  power,  its  guilt,  its  woe ;  and  you  look  upon 
it  with  abhorrence.  You  feel  that  sin  has  separated 
you  from  God,  that  you  are  in  bondage  to  the  power 
of  evil.  The  more  you  struggle  to  escape,  the  more  you 
realize  your  helplessness.  Your  motives  are  impure ; 
your  heart  is  unclean.  You  see  that  your  life  has  been 
filled  with  selfishness  and  sin.  You  long  to  be  forgiven, 
to  be  cleansed,  to  be  set  free.  Harmony  with  God, 
likeness  to  Him, —  what  can  vou  do  to  obtain  it? 

It  is  peace  that  you  need, —  Heaven’s  forgiveness 
and  peace  and  love  in  the  soul.  Money  can  not  buy  it, 
intellect  can  not  procure  it,  wisdom  can  not  attain  to 
it ;  you  can  never  hope,  by  your  own  effort,  to  secure 
it.  But  God  offers  it  to  you  as  a  gift,  “  without  money 
and  without  price.”  1  It  is  yours,  if  you  will  but  reach 
out  your  hand  and  grasp  it.  The  Lord  says,  “  Though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow ; 
though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool.”  2  “A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a 
new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you.”  3 

You  have  confessed  your  sins,  and  in  heart  put 
them  away.  You  have  resolved  to  give  yourself  to 
God.  Now  go  to  Him,  and  ask  that  He  will  wash 
away  your  sins,  and  give  you  a  new  heart.  Then 
believe  that  He  does  this  because  He  has  promised. 

1  Isa.  55  :  i.  2  Isa.  i :  1 8. 


3  Eze.  36 :  26. 


54 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


This  is  the  lesson  which  Jesus  taught  while  He  was 
on  earth,  that  the  gift  which  God  promises  us,  we 
must  believe  we  do  receive,  and  it  is  ours.  Jesus 
healed  the  people  of  their  diseases  when  they  had 
faith  in  His  power ;  He  helped  them  in  the  things 
which  they  could  see,  thus  inspiring  them  with  confi¬ 
dence  in  Him  concerning  things  which  they  could  not 
see, —  leading  them  to  believe  in  His  power  to  forgive 
sins.  This  He  plainly  stated  in  the  healing  of  the 
man  sick  with  palsy:  “That  ye  may  know  that  the 
Son  of  man  hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins  (then 
saith  He  to  the  sick  of  the  palsy),  Arise,  take  up  thy 
bed,  and  go  unto  thine  house.”  1  So  also  John  the 
evangelist  says,  speaking  of  the  miracles  of  Christ, 
“  These  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe  that  Jesus 
is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God ;  and  that  believing  ye 
might  have  life  through  His  name.”  2 

From  the  simple  Bible  account  of  how  Jesus 
healed  the  sick,  we  may  learn  something  about  how 
to  believe  in  Him  for  the  forgiveness  of  sins.  Let  us 
turn  to  the  story  of  the  paralytic  at  Bethesda.  The 
poor  sufferer  was  helpless ;  he  had  not  used  his  limbs 
for  thirty-eight  years.  Yet  Jesus  bade  him,  “  Rise, 
take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk.”  The  sick  man  might 
have  said,  “  Lord,  if  Thou  wilt  make  me  whole,  I 
will  obey  Thy  word.”  But  no,  he  believed  Christ’s 
word,  believed  that  he  was  made  whole,  and  he  made 
the  effort  at  once ;  he  willed  to  walk,  and  he  did  walk. 
He  acted  on  the  word  of  Christ,  and  God  gave  the 
power.  He  was  made  whole. 

1  Matt.  9 :  6. 


2  John  20 :  31. 


FAITH  AND  ACCEPTANCE 


ss 


unto 


In  like  manner  you  are  a  sinner.  You  can  not 
atone  for  your  past  sins,  you  can  not  change  your 
heart,  and  make  yourself  holy.  But  God  promises  to 
do  all  this  for  you  through  Christ.  You  believe  that 
promise.  You  confess  your  sins,  and  give  yourself  to 
God.  You  will  to  serve  Him.  Just  as  surely  as  you 
do  this,  God  will  fulfil  His  word  to  you.  If  you 
believe  the  promise, —  believe  that  you  are  forgiven 
and  cleansed, —  God  supplies  the  fact ;  you  are  made 
whole,  just  as  Christ  gave  the  paralytic  power  to 
walk  when  the  man  believed  that  he  was  healed.  It 
is  so  if  you  believe  it. 

Do  not  wait  to  feel  thr 
are  made  whole,  but  say,  “  . 
believe  it ;  it  is  so,  not  be 
cause  I  feel  it,  but  because 
God  has  promised.” 

Jesus  says,  “  What 
things  soever  ye  desire, 
when  ye  pray,  believe 
that  ye  receive  them,  and 
ve  shall  have  them.”  1 
There  is  a  condition  to 
this  promise, — that  we  pray 
according  to  the  will  of 
God.  But  it  is  the  will 
of  God  to  cleanse  us 
from  sin,  to  make  us 
His  children,  and  to 
enable  us  to  live  a 


thy 


thine 


bed, 

house.” 


1  Mark  n  :  24. 


to 


56 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


‘A  lamb  with¬ 
out  blemish  and 
without  spot.” 


holy  life.  So  we  may  ask  for  these  blessings,  and 
believe  that  we  receive  them,  and  thank  God  that  we 
have  received  them.  It  is  our  privilege  to  go  to  Jesus 
and  be  cleansed,  and  to  stand  before  the  law  without 
shame  or  remorse.  “  There  is  therefore  now  no  con¬ 
demnation  to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.”  1 

Henceforth  you  are  not  your  own ;  you  are  bought 
with  a  price.  “  Ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible 
things,  as  silver  and  gold,  .  .  .  but  with  the  precious 
blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish 
and  without  spot.”2  Through  this  simple  act  of 
believing  God,  the  Holy  Spirit  has  be¬ 
gotten  a  new  life  in  your  heart.  You 
are  as  a  child  born  into  the  family  of 
God,  and  He  loves  you  as  He  loves 
His  Son. 

Now  that  you  have  given  yourself 

\  > 

to  Jesus,  do  not  draw  back,  do  not 
take  yourself  away  from  Him,  but  day  by 
‘  I  am  Christ’s ;  I  have  given  myself  to 
Him ;  ”  and  ask  Him  to  give  you  His  Spirit,  and 
keep  you  by  His  grace.  As  it  is  by  giving  yourself 
to  God,  and  believing  Him,  that  you  become  His  child, 
so  you  are  to  live  in  Him.  The  apostle  says,  “As  ye 
have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so 
walk  ye  in  Him.”  3 

Some  seem  to  feel  that  they  must  be  on  probation, 
and  must  prove  to  the  Lord  that  they  are  reformed, 
before  they  can  claim  His  blessing.  But  they  may 


day  say, 


1  Rom.  8 :  i. 


2  i  Peter  i :  18,  19. 


s  Col.  2:  6. 


FAITH  AND  ACCEPTANCE 


57 


claim  the  blessing1  of  God  even  now.  They  must  have 
His  grace,  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  to  help  their  infirmi¬ 
ties,  or  they  can  not  resist  evil.  Jesus  loves  to  have 
us  come  to  Him  just  as  we  are,  sinful,  helpless,  depend¬ 
ent.  We  may  come  with  all  our  weakness,  our  folly, 
our  sinfulness,  and  fall  at  His  feet  in  penitence.  It 
is  His  glory  to  encircle  us  in  the  arms  of  His  love, 
and  to  bind  up  our  wounds,  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
impurity. 

Here  is  where  thousands  fail :  they  do  not  believe 
that  Jesus  pardons  them  personally,  individually. 
They  do  not  take  God  at  His  word.  It  is  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  all  who  comply  with  the  conditions  to  know 
for  themselves  that  pardon  is  freely  extended  for  every 
sin.  Put  away  the  suspicion  that  God’s  promises  are 
not  meant  for  you.  They  are  for  every 
repentant  transgressor.  Strength 
and  grace  have  been  provided 
through  Christ  to  be  brought  by 
ministering  angels  to  every  be¬ 
lieving  soul.  None  are  so  sinful 
that  they  can  not  find  strength, 
purity,  and  righteousness  in 
Jesus,  who  died  for  them.  He 
is  waiting  to  strip  them  of  their 
garments  stained  and  polluted 
with  sin,  and  to  put  upon  them 
the  white  robes  of  righteousness ; 

He  bids  them  live,  and  not  die. 

God  does  not  deal  with  us  as 


He  is  waiting  to 
put  upon  them 
the  white  robes  of 
righteousness 


58 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


When  he  was  yet  a  great  way 
off,  his  father  saw  him.” 


finite  men  deal  with  one  another.  His  thoughts  are 
thoughts  of  mercy,  love,  and  tenderest  compassion. 
He  says,  “  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the 
unrighteous  man  his  thoughts :  and  let  him  return 
unto  the  Lord,  and  He  will  have  mercy  upon  him ;  and 

to  our  God,  for  He  will  abun¬ 
dantly  pardon.”  “  I  have 
blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud, 
thy  transgressions,  and,  as 
a  cloud,  thy  sins.”  1 

“  I  have  no  pleasure  in 
the  death  of  him  that  dieth, 
saith  the  Lord  God :  where¬ 
fore  turn  yourselves,  and  live 
ye.” 2  Satan  is  ready  to  steal 
away  the  blessed  assurances  of 
God.  He  desires  to  take  every 
glimmer  of  hope  and  every  ray 
of  light  from  the  soul ;  but  you 
must  not  permit  him  to  do  this. 
Do  not  give  ear  to  the  tempter, 
but  say :  “  Jesus  has  died  that  I 
might  live.  Tie  loves  me,  and  wills 
not  that  I  should  perish.  I  have  a  compasr 
sionate  heavenly  Father ;  and  although  I  have 
abused  His  love,  though  the  blessings  He  has  given 
me  have  been  squandered,  I  will  arise,  and  go  to  my 
Father,  and  say,  ‘  I  have  sinned  against  Heaven,  and 
before  Thee,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  Thy 
son :  make  me  as  one  of  Thv  hired  servants.’  ”  The 


1  Isa.  55:7;  44:  22. 


2  Eze.  t8  :  32. 


FAITH  AND  ACCEPTANCE 


59 


parable  tells  you  how  the  wanderer  will  be  received : 
“  When  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw 
him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him.”  1 

But  even  this  parable,  tender  and  touching  as  it 
is,  comes  short  of  expressing  the  infinite  compassion 
of  the  heavenly  Father.  The  Lord  declares  by  His 
prophet,  “  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love : 
therefore  with  loving-kindness  have  I  drawn  thee  ”  2 
While  the  sinner  is  yet  far  from  the  Father’s  house, 
wasting  his  substance  in  a  strange  country,  the 
Father’s  heart  is  yearning  over  him ;  and  every  long¬ 
ing  awakened  in  the  soul  to  return  to  God,  is  but  the 
tender  pleading  of  His  Spirit,  wooing,  entreating, 
drawing  the  wanderer  to  his  Father’s  heart  of  love. 

With  the  rich  promises  of  the  Bible  before  you, 
can  you  give  place  to  doubt?  Can  you  believe  that 
when  the  poor  sinner  longs  to  return,  longs  to  forsake 
his  sins,  the  Lord  sternly  withholds  him  from  coming 
to  His  feet  in  repentance?  Away  with  such  thoughts! 
Nothing  can  hurt  your  own  soul 
more  than  to  entertain  such  a  con¬ 
ception  of  our  heavenly  Father. 

He  hates  sin,  but  He  loves  the 
sinner,  and  He  gave  Himself  in 
the  person  of  Christ,  that  all  who 
would,  might  be  saved,  and  have 
eternal  blessedness  in  the  kingdom 
of  glory.  What  stronger  or  more 
tender  language  could  have  been 


1  Luke  is  :  1 8*20, 


2  Jer,  3i ;  3. 


'  Can  a  woman  forget  fr 
sucking  child?” 


6o 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


employed  than  He  has  chosen  in  which  to  express  His 
love  toward  us  ?  He  declares,  “  Can  a  woman  forget 
her  sucking  child,  that  she  should  not  have  compas¬ 
sion  on  the  son  of  her  womb?  Yea,  they  may  forget, 
yet  will  I  not  forget  thee.”  1 

Look  up,  you  that  are  doubting  and  trembling; 
for  Jesus  lives  to  make  intercession  for  us.  Thank 
God  for  the  gift  of  His  dear  Son,  and  pray  that  He 
may  not  have  died  for  you  in  vain.  The  Spirit  invites 
you  to-day.  Come  with  your  whole  heart  to  Jesus, 
and  you  may  claim  His  blessing. 

As  you  read  the  promises,  remember  they  are  the 
expression  of  unutterable  love  and  pity.  The  great 
heart  of  Infinite  Love  is  drawn  toward  the  sinner  with 
boundless  compassion.  “We  have  redemption  through 
His  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins.”  2  Yes,  only  believe 
that  God  is  your  helper.  He  wants  to  restore  His 
moral  image  in  man.  As  you  draw  near  to  Him  with 
confession  and  repentance,  He  will  draw  near  to  you 
with  mercy  and  forgiveness. 

1  Isa.  49:15.  1  Eph.  1:  7, 


As  you  read  the  promises 


The  Test  of  Discipleship 


IF  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature :  old 
things  are  passed  away ;  behold,  all  things  are 
become  new/’ 1 

A  person  may  not  be  able  to  tell  the  exact  time  or 
place,  or  to  trace  all  the  chain  of  circumstances  in  the 
process  of  conversion ;  but  this  does  not  prove  him  to 
be  unconverted.  Christ  said  to  Nicodemus,  “  The 
wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the 
sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh, 
yn  >?  •  ,  and  whither  it  goeth :  so  is  every 

one  that  is  born  of  the 
Spirit.”  2  Like  the  wind, 
which  is  invisible,  yet 
the  effects  of  which  are 
plainly  seen  and  felt,  is  the 
Spirit  of  God  in  its  work  upon 
human  heart.  That  regenera- 
power,  which  no  human  eye 
can  see,  begets  a  new  life  in 
the  soul ;  it  creates  a  new 
being  in  the  image  of  God. 
While  the  work  of  the 
Spirit  is  silent  and  imper¬ 
ceptible,  its  effects  are 
manifest.  If  the  heart 
has  been  renewed  bv  the 


'  The  wind  bloweth 
where  it  listeth.” 


1  2  Cor.  s :  17. 
s  John  3 :  8. 


I 


62  STEPS  TO  CHRIST 

Spirit  of  God,  the  life  will  bear  witness  to  the  fact. 
While  we  can  not  do  anything  to  change  our  hearts, 
or  to  bring  ourselves  into  harmony  with  God;  while 
we  must  not  trust  at  all  to  ourselves  or  our  good 
works,  our  lives  will  reveal  whether  the  grace  of  God 
is  dwelling  within  us«  A  change  will  be  seen  in  the 
character,  the  habits,  the  pursuits.  The  contrast  will 
be  clear  and  decided  between  what  they  have  been 
and  what  they  are.  The  character  is  revealed,  not 
by  occasional  good  deeds  and  occasional  misdeeds, 
but  by  the  tendency  of  the  habitual  words  and  acts. 

It  is  true  that  there  may  be  an  outward  correct¬ 
ness  of  deportment  without  the  renewing  power  of 
Christ.  The  love  of  influence  and  the  desire  for  the 
esteem  of  others  may  produce  a  well-ordered  life. 
Self-respect  may  lead  us  to  avoid  the  appearance  of 
evil.  A  selfish  heart  may  perform  generous  actions. 
Bv  what  means,  then,  shall  we  determine  whose  side 
we  are  on? 

Who  has  the  heart  ?  With  whom  are  our  thoughts  ? 
Of  whom  do  we  love  to  converse?  Who  has  our 
warmest  affections  arid  our  best  energies?  If  we  are 
Christ’s,  our  thoughts  are  with  Him,  and  our  sweetest 
thoughts  are  of  Him.  All  that  we  have  and  are  is 
consecrated  to  Him.  We  long  to  bear  His  image, 
breathe  His  spirit,  do  His  will,  and  please  Him  in 
all  things. 

Those  who  become  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus 
will  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  “  love,  joy, 
peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 


THE  TEST  OF  DISCIPLESHIP  63 


meekness,  temperance.”  1  They  will  no  longer  fashion 
themselves  according  to  the  former  lusts,  but  by  the 
faith  of  the  Son  of  God  they  will  follow  in  His  steps, 
reflect  His  character,  and  purify  themselves  even  as 
He  is  pure.  The  things  they  once  hated,  they  now 
love ;  and  the  things  they  once  loved,  they  hate.  The 
proud  and  self-assertive  become  meek  and  lowly  in 
heart.  The  vain  and  supercilious  become  serious  and 
unobtrusive.  The  drunken  become  sober,  and  the 
profligate  pure.  The  vain  customs  and  fashions  of 
the  world  are  laid  aside.  Christians  will  seek  not  the 
“outward  adorning,”  but  “  the  hidden  man  of  the 
heart,  in  that  which  is  not  corruptible,  even  the  orna¬ 
ment  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit.”  2 

There  is  no  evidence  of  genuine  repentance,  unless 
it  works  reformation.  If  he  restore  the  pledge,  give 
again  that  he  had  robbed,  confess  his  sins,  and  love 
God  and  his  fellow  men,  the  sinner  may  be  sure  that 
he  has  passed  from  death  unto  life. 

When,  as  erring,  sinful  beings,  we  come  to  Christ 
and  become  partakers  of  His  pardoning  grace,  love 
springs  up  in  the  heart.  Every  burden  is  light ;  for 
the  yoke  that  Christ  imposes  is  1 
easy.  Duty  becomes  a  delight, 
and  sacrifice  a  pleasure.  The 
path  that  before  seemed  shrouded 
in  darkness,  becomes  bright 
with  beams  from  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness. 

The  loveliness  of  the  char- 

1  Gal.  5:  22,  23.  2  1  Peter  3:3,  4. 


If  he  restore  the 
pledge 


64 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


acter  of  Christ  will  be  seen  in  His  followers.  It  was 
His  delight  to  do  the  will  of  God.  Love  to  God,  zeal 
for  His  glory,  was  the  controlling  power  in  our 
Saviour’s  life.  Love  beautified  and  ennobled  all  His 
actions.  Love  is  of  God.  The  unconsecrated  heart 
can  not  originate  or  produce  it.  It  is  found  only  in 
the  heart  where  Jesus  reigns.  “We  love,  because  He 
first  loved  us.”  1  In  the  heart  renewed  by  divine  grace, 
love  is  the  principle  of  action.  It  modifies  the  char¬ 
acter,  governs  the  impulses,  controls  the  passions, 
subdues  enmity,  and  ennobles  the  affections.  This 

love,  cherished  in  the 
soul,  sweetens  the  life, 
and  sheds  a  refining 
influence  on  all 
around. 

There  are  two 
errors  against  which 
the  children  of  God — 
particularly  those  who 
have  just  come  to 
trust  in  His  grace  — 
especially  need  to 
guard.  The  first,  al¬ 
ready  dwelt  upon,  is 
that  of  looking  to 
their  own  works, 
trusting  to  anything 
they  can  do,  to  bring 
themselves  into  har- 
,.W.A  w„v..  1  t  John  4:19,  R.  v, 

I  he  path  becomes 
bright  with  beams 
from  the  Sun  of 
Righ'eousness 


THE  TEST  OF  DISCIPLESHIP  65 


mony  with  God.  He  who  is  trying  to  become  holy 
by  his  own  works  in  keeping  the  law,  is  attempting 
an  impossibility.  All  that  man  can  do  without  Christ 
is  polluted  with  selfishness  and  sin.  It  is  the  grace 
of  Christ  alone,  through  faith,  that  can  make  us  holy. 

The  opposite  and  no  less  dangerous  error  is,  that 
belief  in  Christ  releases  men  from  keeping  the  law  of 
God ;  that  since  by  faith  alone  we  become  partakers 
of  the  grace  of  Christ,  our  works  have  nothing  to  do 
with  our  redemption. 

But  notice  here  that  obedience  is  not  a  mere  out 
ward  compliance,  but  the  service  of  love.  The  law 
of  God  is  an  expression  of  His  very  nature ;  it  is  an 
embodiment  of  the  great  principle  of  love,  and  hence 
is  the  foundation  of  His  government  in  heaven  and 
earth.  If  our  hearts  are  renewed  in  the  likeness  of 
God,  if  the  divine  love  is  implanted  in  the  soul,  will 
not  the  law  of  God  be  carried  out  in  the  life?  When 
the  principle  of  love  is  implanted  in  the  heart,  when 
man  is  renewed  after  the  image  of  Him  that  created 
him,  the  new  covenant  promise  is  fulfilled,  “  I  will  put 
My  laws  into  their  hearts,  and  in  their  minds  will  I 
write  them.”  1  And  if  the  law  is  written  in  the  heart, 
will  it  not  shape  the  life  ?  Obedience  —  the  service 
and  allegiance  of  love  —  is  the  true  sign  of  disciple- 
ship.  Thus  the  Scripture  says,  “  This  is  the  love  of 
God,  that  we  keep  His  commandments.”  “  He  that 
saith,  I  know  Him,  and  keepeth  not  His  command¬ 
ments,  is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him.”  2  Instead 
of  releasing  man  from  obedience,  it  is  faith,  and  faith 

1  Heb.  10:16.  2  1  John  5:3;  2:  4. 

5 


66 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


only,  that  makes  us  partakers  of  the  grace  of  Christ, 
which  enables  us  to  render  obedience. 

We  do  not  earn  salvation  by  our  obedience;  for 
salvation  is  the  free  gift  of  God,  to  be  received  by 
faith.  But  obedience  is  the  fruit  of  faith.  “Ye  know 
that  He  was  manifested  to  take  away  our  sins ;  and 
in  Him  is  no  sin.  Whosoever  abideth  in  Him  sinneth 
not;  whosoever  sinneth  hath  not  seen  Him,  neither 
known  Him.”1  Here  is  the  true  test.  If  we  abide  in 
Christ,  if  the  love  of  God  dwells  in  us,  our  feelings, 
our  thoughts,  our  actions,  will  be  in  harmony  with 
the  will  of  God  as  expressed  in  the  precepts  of  His 
holy  law.  “  Little  children,  let  no  man  deceive  you : 
he  that  doeth  righteousness  is  righteous,  even  as  He 
is  righteous.”  2  Righteousness  is  defined  by  the  stand¬ 
ard  of  God’s  holy  law,  as  expressed  in  the  ten  pre¬ 
cepts  given  on  Sinai. 

That  so-called  faith  in  Christ  which  professes  to 
release  men  from  the  obligation  of  obedience  to  God, 
is  not  faith,  but  presumption.  “  By  grace  are  ye  saved 
through  faith.”  But  “  faith,  if  it  hath  not  works,  is 
dead.” 3  Jesus  said  of  Himself  before  He  came  to 
earth,  “  I  delight  to  do  Thy  will,  O  My  God ;  yea, 
Thy  law  is  within  My  heart.”  4  And  just  before  He 
ascended  again  to  heaven  He  declared,  “  I  have  kept 
My  Father’s  commandments,  and  abide  in  His  love.”  5 
The  Scripture  says,  “  Hereby  we  do  know  that  we 
know  Him,  if  we  keep  His  commandments.  .  .  .  He 
that  saith  he  abideth  in  Him  ought  himself  also  so 

1  I  John  3:  5,  6.  2  I  John  3:  7. 

3  Eph.  2:8;  James  2:17.  4  Ps.  40:8. 

5  John  15:  10. 


THE  TEST  OF  DISCIPLESHIP  67 


to  walk,  even  as  He  walked.”  1  “  Because  Christ  also 

suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  ye  should 
follow  His  steps.”  2 

The  condition  of  eternal  life  is  now  just  what  it 
always  has  been, —  just  what  it  was  in  Paradise  before 
the  fall  of  our  first  parents, —  perfect  obedience  to 
the  law  of  God,  perfect  righteousness.  If  eternal  life 
were  granted  on  any  condition  short  of  this,  then  the 
happiness  of  the  whole  universe  would  be  imperiled. 
The  way  would  be  open  for  sin,  with  all  its  train  of 
woe  and  misery,  to  be  immortalized. 

It  was  possible  for  Adam,  before  the  fall,  to  form 
a  righteous  character  by  obedience  to  God’s  law.  But 
he  failed  to  do  this,  and  because  of  his  sin  our  natures 
are  fallen,  and  we  can  not  make  ourselves  righteous. 
Since  we  are  sinful,  unholy,  we  can  not  perfectly  obey 
a  holy  law.  We  have  no  righteousness  of  our  own 
with  which  to  meet  the  claims  of  the  law  of  God. 
But  Christ  has  made  a  way  of  escape  for  us.  He 
lived  on  earth  amid  trials  and  temptations  such  as  we 
have  to  meet.  He  lived  a  sinless  life.  He  died  for 
us,  and  now  He  offers  to  take  our  sins  and  give  us 
His  righteousness.  If  you  give  yourself  to  Him,  and 
accept  Him  as  your  Saviour,  then,  sinful  as  your  life 
may  have  been,  for  His  sake  you  are  accounted  right¬ 
eous.  Christ’s  character  stands  in  place  of  your  char¬ 
acter,  and  you  are  accepted  before  God  just  as  if  you 
had  not  sinned. 

More  than  this,  Christ  changes  the  heart.  He 
abides  in  your  heart  by  faith.  You  are  to  maintain  this 

1  1  John  2:3-6.  2  1  Peter  2:  21. 


68 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


connection  with  Christ  by  faith  and  the  continual  sur¬ 
render  of  your  will  to  Him ;  and  so  long  as  you  do 
this,  He  will  work  in  you  to  will  and  to  do  according 
to  His  good  pleasure.  So  you  may  say,  “  The  life 
which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh  I  live  by  the  faith  of 
the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  Himself  for 
me.”  1  So  Jesus  said  to  His  disciples,  “  It  is  not  ye 
that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father  which  speak- 
eth  in  you.”  2  Then  with  Christ  working  in  you,  you 
will  manifest  the  same  spirit  and  do  the  same  works, — 
works  of  righteousness,  obedience. 

So  we  have  nothing  in  ourselves  of  which  to  boast. 
We  have  no  ground  for  self-exaltation.  Our  only 
ground  of  hope  is  in  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
imputed  to  us,  and  in  that  wrought  by  His  Spirit 
working  in  and  through  us. 

When  we  speak  of  faith,  there  is  a  distinction  that 
should  be  borne  in  mind.  There  is  a  kind  of  belief 
that  is  wholly  distinct  from  faith.  The  existence  and 
power  of  God,  the  truth  of  His  word,  are  facts  that 
even  Satan  and  his  hosts  can  not  at  heart  deny.  The 
Bible  says  that  “the  devils  also  believe,  and  tremble;”3 
but  this  is  not  faith.  Where  there  is  not  only  a  belief 
in  God’s  Word,  but  a  submission  of  the  will  to  Him; 
where  the  heart  is  yielded  to  Him,  the  affections  fixed 
upon  Him,  there  is  faith, —  faith  that  works  by  love, 
and  purifies  the  soul.  Through  this  faith  the  heart  is 
renewed  in  the  image  of  God.  And  the  heart  that  in 
its  unrenewed  state  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be,  now  delights  in  its  holy  pre- 

1  Gal.  2:  20.  2  Matt.  10:  20. 


3  James  2:  ig. 


THE  TEST  OF  DISCIPLESHIP  69 


cepts,  exclaiming1  with  the  Psalmist,  “  O  how  love  I 
Thy  law !  it  is  my  meditation  all  the  day.”  1  And  the 
righteousness  of  the  law  is  fulfilled  in  us,  “  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.”  2 

There  are  those  who  have  known  the  pardoning 
love  of  Christ,  and  who  really  desire  to  be  children 
of  God,  yet  they  realize  that  their  character  is  imper¬ 
fect,  their  life  faulty,  and  they  are  ready  to  doubt 
whether  their  hearts  have  been  renewed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  To  such  I  would  say,  Do  not  draw  back  in 
despair.  We  shall  often  have  to  bow  down  and  weep 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus  because  of  our  short-comings  and 
mistakes ;  but  we  are  not  to  be  discouraged.  Even 
if  we  are  overcome  by  the  enemy,  we  are  not  cast  off, 
not  forsaken  and  rejected  of  God.  No;  Christ  is  at 
the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us.  Said  the  beloved  John,  “  These  things  write  I 
unto  you,  that  ye  sin  not.  And  if  any  man  sin,  we 
have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous.”  3  And  do  not  forget  the  words  of  Christ, 
“  The  Father  Himself  loveth  you.”  4  He  desires  to 
restore  you  to  Himself,  to  see  His  own  purity  and  holi¬ 
ness  reflected  in  you.  And  if  you  will  but  yield  your¬ 
self  to  Him,  He  that  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you 
will  carry  it  forward  to  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.  Pray 
more  fervently ;  believe  more  fully.  As  we  come  to 
distrust  our  own  power,  let  us  trust  the  power  of  our 
Redeemer,  and  we  shall  praise  Him  who  is  the  health 
of  our  countenance. 


1  Ps.  1 19:  97. 
8  i  John  2:  1. 


a  Rom.  8 :  i. 

*  John  16 :  27. 


70 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


The  closer  you  come  to  Jesus,  the  more  faulty 
you  will  appear  in  your  own  eyes ;  for  your  vision  will 
be  clearer,  and  your  imperfections  will  be  seen  in 
broad  and  distinct  contrast  to  His  perfect  nature.  .This 
is  evidence  that  Satan’s  delusions  have  lost  their 

power;  that  f1e  vivifying  influence  of  the  Spirit  of 

God  is  arou:  hy  you. 

No  deep  Ted  love  for  Jesus  can  dwell  in  the 
heart  that  doe:  not  realize  its  own  sinfulness.  The 
soul  that  is  transformed  by  the  grace  of  Christ  will 
admire  His  divine  character ;  but  if  we  do  not  see  our 
own  moral  deformity,  it  is  unmistakable  evidence  that 
we  have  not  had  a  view  of  the  beauty  and  excellence 
of  Christ. 

The  less  we  see  to  esteem  in  ourselves,  the  more 

we  shall  see  to  esteem  in  the  infinite  purity  and  love¬ 

liness  of  our  Saviour.  A  view  of  our  sinfulness 
drives  us  to  Him  who  can  pardon ;  and  when  the  soul, 
realizing  its  helplessness,  reaches  out  after  Christ,  He 
will  reveal  Himself  in  power.  The  more  our  sense  of 
need  drives  us  to  Him  and  to  the  Word  of  God,  the 
more  exalted  views  we  shall  have  of  His  character, 
and  the  more  fully  we  shall  reflect  His  image. 


Growing  Up  Into  Christ 


HE  change  of  heart  by  which  we  become  chil- 


J.  dren  of  God  is  in  the  Bible  spoken  of  as  birth. 
Again,  it  is  compared  to  the  germination  of  the  good 
seed  sown  by  the  husbandman.  In  like  manner  those 
who  are  just  converted  to  Christ  are,  as  “new-born 
babes,”  to  “  grow  up  ”  1  to  the  stature  of  men  and 
women  in  Christ  Jesus.  Or  like  the  good  seed  sown 
in  the  field,  they  are  to  grow  up  and  bring  forth  fruit. 
Isaiah  says  that  they  shall  “  be  called  trees  of  right¬ 
eousness,  the  planting  of  the  Lord,  that  He  might  be 
glorified.” 2  So  from  natural  life,  illustrations  are 
drawn,  to  help  us  better  to  understand  the  mysterious 


truths  of  spiritual  life. 


Not  all  the  wisdom  and 
skill  of  man  can  produce 
life  in  the  smallest  object 
in  nature.  It  is  only  through 


|||§|f  the  life  which  God  Himself 
lipP!  has  imparted,  that  either 
Pfd  plant  or  animal  can  live. 


So  it  is  only  through  the 


life  from  God  that  spiritual 
life  is  begotten  in  the  hearts  of 
men.  Unless  a  man  is  “  born 
from  above,”  3  he  can  not  become 


a  partaker  of  the  life  which  Christ 


1  i  Peter  2:2;  Eph.  4:15.  2  Isa.  61:3. 


3  John  3  :  3  (margin). 


7  2 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


As  with  life,  so  it  is  with  growth.  It  is  God  who 
brings  the  bud  to  bloom  and  the  flower  to  fruit.  It 
is  by  His  power  that  the  seed  develops,  “  first  the 
blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the 
ear.”  1  And  the  prophet  Hosea  says  of  Israel,  that 
“  he  shall  grow  as  the  lily.”  “  They  shall  revive  as 
the  corn,  and  grow  as  the  vine.”  2  And  Jesus  bids 
us  “  consider  the  lilies  how  they  grow.”  3  The  plants 
and  flowers  grow  not  by  their  own  care  or  anxiety  or 
effort,  but  by  receiving  that  which  God  has  furnished 
to  minister  to  their  life.  The  child  can  not,  by  any 
anxiety  or  power  of  its  own,  add  to  its  stature.  No 
more  can  you,  by  anxiety  or  effort  of  yourself,  secure 
spiritual  growth.  The  plant,  the  child,  grows  by 
receiving  from  its  surroundings  that  which  ministers 
to  its  life, —  air,  sunshine,  and  food.  What  these  gifts 
of  nature  are  to  animal  and  plant,  such  is  Christ  to 
those  who  trust  in  Him.  He  is  their  “  everlasting 
light,”  “  a  sun  and  shield.” 4  He  shall  be  as  “  the 
dew  unto  Israel.”  “  He  shall  come  down  like  rain 
upon  the  mown  grass.”  5  He  is  the  living  water,  “  the 
bread  of  God  .  .  .  which  cometh  down  from  heaven, 
and  giveth  life  unto  the  world.”  6 

In  the  matchless  gift  of  His  Son,  God  has  encircled 
the  whole  world  with  an  atmosphere  of  grace,  as  real 
as  the  air  which  circulates  around  the  globe.  All 
who  choose  to  breathe  this  life-giving  atmosphere  will 
live,  and  grow  up  to  the  stature  of  men  and  women 
in  Christ  Jesus. 

1  Mark  4:  28.  2  Hosea  14:  5,  7. 

3  Luke  12:27.  4  Isa.  60:19;  Ps.  84:11. 

6  Hosea  14:5;  Ps.  72:6.  6  John  6:33. 


turns  to  the 
sun 


GROWING  UP  INTO  CHRIST  73 

As  the  flower  turns  to  the  sun,  that  the  bright 
beams  may  aid  in  perfecting  its  beauty  and  sym¬ 
metry^  should  we  turn  to  the  Sun  of  Righteousness, 
that  Heavens  light  may  shine  upon  us, 
that  our  character  may  be  developed  in 
the  likeness  of  Christ. 

Jesus  teaches  the  same  thing  when  He 
says,  “  Abide  in  Me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the 
branch  can  not  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except 
it  abide  in  the  vine ;  no  more  can  ye,  ex- 
«pt  ye  abide  in  Me  .  .  Without  Me  ye  can  do 
no  mg.  You  are  just  as  dependent  upon  Christ 
m  order  to  live  a  holy  life,  as  is  the  branch  upon  the 
parent  stock  for  growth  and  fruitfulness.  Apart  from 
lm  you  have  no  life.  You  have  no  power  to  resist 
temptation  or  to  grow  in  grace  and  holiness.  Abiding 
m  1m,  you  may  flourish.  Drawing  your  life  from 
im,  you  will  not  wither  nor  be  fruitless.  You  will 
be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water. 

Many  have  an  idea  that  they  must  do  some  part 
of  the  work  alone.  They  have  trusted  in 
Christ  for  the  forgiveness  of  sin,  but  now 
they  seek  by  their  own  efforts  to  live 
aright.  But  every  such  effort  must  fail. 
Jesus  says,  “Without  Me  ye  can  do 
nothing.”  Our  growth  in  grace,  our 
y  /  i°y>  our  usefulness, —  all  depend 
$  llPori  our  union  with  Christ.  It  is 
by  communion  with  Him,  daily, 
hourly,— by  abiding  in  Him,— that  we 

1  John  15:  4,  s. 


74 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


are  to  grow  in  grace.  He  is  not  only  the  author  but 
the  finisher  of  our  faith.  It  is  Christ  first  and  last  and 
always.  He  is  to  be  with  us,  not  only  at  the  begin¬ 
ning  and  the  end  of  our  course,  but  at  every  step  of 
the  way.  David  says,  “  I  have  set  the  Lord  always 
before  me :  because  He  is  at  my  right  hand,  I  shall 
not  be  moved/’ 1 

Do  you  ask,  “  How  am  I  to  abide  in  Christ  ? 

In  the  same  way  as  you  received  Him  at  first.  “As 
ye  have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so 
walk  ye  in  Him.”  “The  just  shall  live  by  faith.”  2 
You  gave  yourself  to  God,  to  be  His  wholly,  to  serve 
and  obey  Him,  and  you  took  Christ  as  your  Saviour. 
You  could  not  yourself  atone  for  your  sins  or  change 
your  heart;  but  having  given  yourself  to  God,  you 
believed  that  He  for  Christ’s  sake  did  all  this  for  you. 
By  faith  you  became  Christ’s,  and  by  faith  you  are 
to  grow  up  in  Him, —  by  giving  and  taking.  You 
are  to  give  all, — -  your  heart,  your  will,  your  service, — 
give  yourself  to  Him  to  obey  all  His  requirements ; 
and  you  must  take  all, —  Christ,  the  fulness  of  all  bless¬ 
ing,  to  abide  in  your  heart,  to  be  your  strength,  your 
righteousness,  your  everlasting  helper, —  to  give  you 
power  to  obey. 

Consecrate  yourself  to  God  in  the  morning;  make 
this  your  very  first  work.  Let  your  prayer  be,  “  Take 
me,  O  Lord,  as  wholly  Thine.  I  lay  all  my  plans  at 
Thy  feet.  Use  me  to-day  in  Thy  service.  Abide  with 
me,  and  let  all  my  work  be  wrought  in  Thee.”  This 
is  a  daily  matter.  Each  morning  consecrate  yourself 

1  Ps.  1 6 :  8.  2  Col.  2:6;  Heb.  io:  38. 


GROWING  UP  INTO  CHRIST  75 


to  God  for  that  day.  Surrender  all  your  plans  to 
Him,  to  be  carried  out  or  given  up  as  His  providence 
shall  indicate.  Thus  day  by  day  you  may  be  giving 
your  life  into  the  hands  of  God,  and  thus  your  life 
will  be  molded  more  and  more  after  the  life  of  Christ. 

A  life  in  Christ  is  a  life  of  restfulness.  There  may 
be  no  ecstasy  of  feeling,  but  there  should  be  an  abid¬ 
ing,  peaceful  trust.  Your  hope  is  not  in  yourself  ; 
it  is  in  Christ.  Your  weakness  is  united  to  His 
strength,  your  ignorance  to  Hi-s  wisdom,  your  frailty 
to  His  enduring  might.  So  you  are  not  to  look  to 
yourself,  not  to  let  the  mind  dwell  on  self,  but  look 
to  Christ.  Let  the  mind  dwell  upon  His  love,  upon 
the  beauty,  the  perfection,  of  His  character.  Christ 
in  His  self-denial,  Christ  in  His  humiliation,  Christ  in 
His  purity  and  holiness,  Christ  in  His  matchless  love, 
—  this  is  the  subject  for  the  soul’s  contempla¬ 
tion.  It  is  bv  loving  Him,  copying  Him, 
depending  wholly  upon  Him,  that  you  are 
to  be  transformed  into  His  likeness. 

Jesus  says,  “  Abide  in  Me."  These 
words  convey  the  idea  of  rest,  stability,  v 
confidence.  Again  He  invites,  “  Come  unto 
Me,  .  .  .  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  1  The 
words  of  the  Psalmist  express  the  same 
thought :  “  Rest  in  the  Lord,  and  wait  pa¬ 
tiently  for  Him."  And  Isaiah  gives  the 
assurance,  “  In  quietness  and  in  confi¬ 
dence  shall  be  your  strength."  2  This  rest 
is  not  found  in  inactivity ;  for  in  the 


1  Matt.  11:28,  29.  2  Ps.  37:7;  Isa.  30:15. 


The  subject  for  the 
soul’s  contemplation 


76 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


Saviour’s  invitation  the  promise  of  rest  is  united  with 
the  call  to  labor:  “  Take  My  yoke  upon  you,  .  .  .  and 
ye  shall  find  rest.”  1  The  heart  that  rests  most  fully 
upon  Christ  will  be  most  earnest  and  active  in  labor 
for  Him. 

When  the  mind  dwells  upon  self,  it  is  turned  away 
from  Christ,  the  source  of  strength  and  life.  Hence 
it  is  Satan’s  constant  effort  to  keep  the  attention  di¬ 
verted  from  the  Saviour,  and  thus  prevent  the  union 
and  communion  of  the  soul  with  Christ.  The  pleas¬ 
ures  of  the  world,  life’s  cares  and  perplexities  and 
sorrows,  the  faults  of  others,  or  your  own  faults  and 
imperfections, —  to  any  or  all  of  these  he  will  seek  to 
divert  the  mind.  Do  not  be  misled  by  his  devices. 
Many  who  are  really  conscientious,  and  who  desire 
to  live  for  God,  he  too  often  leads  to  dwell  upon  their 
own  faults  and  weaknesses,  and  thus  by  separating 
them  from  Christ,  he  hopes  to  gain  the  victory.  We 
should  not  make  self  the  center,  and  indulge  anxiety 
and  fear  as  to  whether  we  shall  be  saved.  All  this 
turns  the  soul  away  from  the  Source  of  our  strength. 
Commit  the  keeping  of  your  soul  to  God,  and  trust  in 
Him.  Talk  and  think  of  Jesus.  Let  self  be  lost  in 
Him.  Put  away  all  doubt ;  dismiss  your  fears.  Say 
with  the  apostle  Paul,  “  I  live ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ 
liveth  in  me :  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in  the 
flesh  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved 
me,  and  gave  Himself  for  me.”  2  Rest  in  God.  He  is 
able  to  keep  that  which  you  have  committed  to  Him. 
If  you  will  leave  yourself  in  His  hands,  He  will  bring 

1  Matt.  11:29.  2  Gal.  2:20. 


GROWING  UP  INTO  CHRIST  77 


you  off  more  than  conqueror  through  Him  that  has 
loved  you. 

When  Christ  took  human  nature  upon  Him,  He 
bound  humanity  to  Himself  by  a  tie  of  love  that  can 
never  be  broken  by  any  power  save  the  choice  of  man 
himself.  Satan  will  constantly  present  allurements 
to  induce  us  to  break  this  tie, —  to  choose  to  separate 
ourselves  from  Christ.  Here 
where  we  need  to  watch,  to 
strive,  to  pray,  that  nothing 
may  entice  us  to  choose 
another  master ;  for  we  are 
always  free  to  do  this. 

But  let  us  keep  our  eyes 
fixed  upon  Christ,  and  Pie 
will  preserve  us.  Looking 
unto  Jesus,  we  are  safe 
Nothing  can  pluck  us  out  of 
His  hand.  In  constantly  beholding 
Him,  we  “  are  changed  into  the  same 
image  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as 
by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.”  1 

It  was  thus  that  the  early  disciples  gained  their 
likeness  to  the  dear  Saviour.  When  those  disciples 
heard  the  words  of  Jesus,  they  felt  their  need  of  Him. 
They  sought,  they  found,  they  followed  Him.  They 
were  with  Him  in  the  house,  at  the  table,  in  the 
closet,  in  the  field.  They  were  with  Him  as  pupils 
with  a  teacher,  daily  receiving  from  His  lips  lessons 
of  holy  truth.  They  looked  to  Him,  as  servants  to 

1  2  Cor.  3:  18. 


They  were  with  Him  in 
the  house,  at  the  table 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


78 

their  master,  to  learn  their  duty.  Those  disciples 
were  men  “subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are.”1 
They  had  the  same  battle  with  sin  to  fight.  They 
needed  the  same  grace,  in  order  to  live  a  holy  life. 

Even  John,  the  beloved  disciple,  the  one  who  most 
fully  reflected  the  likeness  of  the  Saviour,  did  not 
naturally  possess  that  loveliness  of  character.  He 
was  not  only  self-assertive  and  ambitious  for  honor, 
but  impetuous  and  resentful  under  injuries.  But  as 
the  character  of  the  Divine  One  was  manifested  to 
him,  he  saw  his  own  deficiency,  and  was  humbled  by 
the  knowledge.  The  strength  and  patience,  the  power 
and  tenderness,  the  majesty  and  meekness,  that  he 
beheld  in  the  daily  life  of  the  Son  of  God,  filled  his 
soul  with  admiration  and  love.  Day  by  day  his  heart 
was  drawn  out  toward  Christ,  until  he  lost  sight  of 
self  in  love  for  his  Master.  His  resentful,  ambitious 
temper  was  yielded  to  the  molding  power  of  Christ. 
The  regenerating  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  renewed 
his  heart.  The  power  of  the  love  of  Christ  wrought 
a  transformation  of  character.  This  is  the  sure  result 
of  union  with  Jesus.  When  Christ  abides  in  the  heart, 
the  whole  nature  is  transformed.  Christ’s  Spirit,  His 
love,  softens  the  heart,  subdues  the  soul,  and  raises 
the  thoughts  and  desires  toward  God  and  heaven. 

When  Christ  ascended  to  heaven,  the  sense  of  His 
presence  was  still  with  His  followers.  It  was  a  per¬ 
sonal  presence,  full  of  love  and  light.  Jesus,  the 
Saviour,  who  had  walked  and  talked  and  prayed  with 
them,  who  had  spoken  hope  and  comfort  to  their 
hearts,  had,  while  the  message  of  peace  was  still  upon 

1  James  5:  17. 


GROWING  UP  INTO  CHRIST  79 


His  lips,  been  taken  up  from  them  into  heaven,  and 
the  tones  of  His  voice  had  come  back  to  them,  as  the 
cloud  of  angels  received  Him, — Lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.”1  He  had  ascended  to  heaven 
in  the  form  of  humanity.  They 
knew  that  He  was  before  the 
throne  of  God,  their  Friend  and 
Saviour  still ;  that  His  sympathies 
were  unchanged ;  that  Ide  was 
still  identified  with  suffering 
humanity.  He  was  presenting 
before  God  the  merits  of  His 
own  precious  blood,  showing  PI  is 
wounded  hands  and  feet,  in  remem¬ 
brance  of  the  price  He  had  paid  for 
His  redeemed.  They  knew  that  He 
had  ascended  to  heaven  to  prepare 
places  for  them,  and  that  He  would  come  again, 
and  take  them  to  Himself. 

As  they  met  together,  after  the  ascension,  they 
were  eager  to  present  their  requests  to  the  Father  in 
the  name  of  Jesus.  In  solemn  awe  they  bowed  in 
prayer,  repeating  the  assurance,  “  Whatsoever  ye  shall 
ask  the  Father  in  My  name,  He  will  give  it  you. 
Hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing  in  My  name :  ask,  and 
ye  shall  receive,  that  your  joy  may  be  full.”  2  They 
extended  the  hand  of  faith  higher  and  higher,  with 
the  mighty  argument,  “  It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea 
rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us.”  3  And 

1  Matt.  28:  20.  2John  16:23,  24. 

3  Rom.  8 .  34. 


8o 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


Pentecost  brought  them  the  presence  of  the  Comforter, 
of  whom  Christ  had  said,  He  “  shall  be  in  you.”  And 
He  had  further  said,  “  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I 
go  away :  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not 
come  unto  you ;  but  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  Him  unto 
you.”  1  Henceforth  through  the  Spirit,  Christ  was  to 
abide  continually  in  the  hearts  of  His  children.  Their 
union  with  Him  was  closer  than  when  He  was  per¬ 
sonally  with  them.  The  light,  and  love,  and  power  of 
the  indwelling  Christ  shone  out  through  them,  so  that 
men,  beholding,  “  marveled ;  and  they  took  knowledge 
of  them,  that  they  had  been  with  Jesus.”  2 

All  that  Christ  was  to  the  first  disciples,  He  desires 
to  be  to  His  children  to-day ;  for  in  that  last  prayer, 
with  the  little  band  of  disciples  gathered  about  Him, 
He  said,  “  Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for  them 
also  which  shall  believe  on  Me  through  their  word.”  3 
Jesus  prayed  for  us,  and  He  asked  that  we  might 
be  one  with  Him,  even  as  He  is  one  with  the  Father. 
What  a  union  is  this !  The  Saviour  has  said  of  Him¬ 
self,  “  The  Son  can  do  nothing  of  Himself ;  ”  “  the 
Father  that  dwelleth  in  Me,  He  doeth  the  works.”  4 
Then  if  Christ  is  dwelling  in  our  hearts,  He  will  work 
in  us  “  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure.”  5 
We  shall  work  as  He  worked ;  we  shall  manifest  the 
same  spirit.  And  thus,  loving  Him  and  abiding  in 
Him,  we  shall  “  grow  up  into  Him  in  all  things,  which 
is  the  head,  even  Christ.”  6 

1  John  14:  1 7;  16:  7. 

3  John  17:20. 

5  Phil.  2:  13. 


2  AcU  4:  13. 

4  John  5:19;  14:  10. 
6  Eph.  4:15- 


The  Work  And  The  Life 


God  is  the  source  of  life  and  light  and  joy  to  the 
universe.  Like  rays  of  light  from  the  sun,  like 
the  streams  of  water  bursting  from  a  living  spring, 
blessings  flow  out  from  Him  to  all  His  creatures. 
And  wherever  the  life  of  God  is  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
it  will  flow  out  to  others  in  love  and  blessing. 

Our  Saviour’s  joy  was  ’  i  the  uplifting  and  redemp¬ 
tion  of  fallen  men.  For  this  He  counted  not  His  life 
dear  unto  Himself,  but  endured  the  cross,  despising 
the  shame.  So  angels  are  ever  engaged  in  working 
for  the  happiness  of  others.  This  is  their  joy.  That 
which  selfish  hearts  would  regard  as  humiliating  serv¬ 
ice,  ministering  to  those 
who  are  wretched  and  in 
every  way  inferior  in 
character  and  rank,  is 
the  work  of  sinless 
angels.  The  spirit  of 
Christ’s  self-sacrificing  4 
love  is  the  spirit  that 
pervades  heaven,  and 
is  the  very  essence  of 
its  bliss.  This  is  the 
spirit  that  Christ’s 
followers  will  possess, 
the  work  that  they  will  do. 


Like  streams  of 
water  bursting 
from  a  living 
spring 


82 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


When  the  love  of  Christ  is  enshrined  in  the  heart, 
like  sweet  fragrance  it  can  not  be  hidden.  Its  holy 
influence  will  be  felt  by  all  with  whom  we  come  in 
contact.  The  spirit  of  Christ  in  the  heart  is  like  a 
spring  in  the  desert,  flowing  to  refresh  all,  and  making 
those  who  are  ready  to  perish,  eager  to  drink  of  the 
water  of  life. 

Love  to  Jesus  will  be  manifested  in  a  desire  to 
work  as  He  worked,  for  the  blessing  and  uplifting  of 
humanity.  It  will  lead  to  love,  tenderness,  and  sym¬ 
pathy  toward  all  the  creatures  of  our  heavenly  Father’s 
care. 

The  Saviour’s  life  on  earth  was  not  a  life  of  ease 
and  devotion  to  Himself,  but  He  toiled  with  persistent, 
earnest,  untiring  effort  for  the  salvation  of  lost  man¬ 
kind.  From  the  manger  to  Calvary  He  followed  the 
path  of  self-denial,  and  sought  not  to  be  released  from 
arduous  tasks,  painful  travels,  and  exhausting  care 
and  labor.  He  said,  “  The  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be 
ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and  to  give  His  life 
a  ransom  for  many.”  1  This  was  the  one  great  object 
of  His  life.  Everything  else  was  secondary  and  sub¬ 
servient.  It  was  His  meat  and  drink  to  do  the  will  of 
God  and  to  finish  His  work.  Self  and  self-interest 
had  no  part  in  His  labor. 

So  those  who  are  the  partakers  of  the  grace  of 
Christ  will  be  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice,  that  others 
for  whom  He  died  may  share  the  heavenly  gift.  They 
will  do  all  they  can  to  make  the  world  better  for  their 
stay  in  it.  This  spirit  is  the  sure  outgrowth  of  a  soul 

1  Matt.  2c :  28. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LIFE  83 


truly  converted.  No  sooner  does  one  come  to  Christ, 
than  there  is  born  in  his  heart  a  desire  to  make  known 
to  others  what  a  precious  friend  he  has  found  in  Jesus ; 
the  saving  and  sanctifying  truth  can  not  be  shut  up 
in  his  heart.  If  we  are  clothed  with  the  righteousness 
of  Christ,  and  are  filled  with  the  joy  of  His  indwelling 
Spirit,  we  shall  not  be  able  to  hold  our  peace.  If  we 
have  tasted  and  seen  that  the  Lord  is  good,  we  shall 
have  something  to  tell.  Like  Philip  when  he  found  the 
Saviour,  we  shall  invite  others  into  His  presence.  We 
shall  seek  to  present  to  them  the  attractions  of  Christ, 
and  the  unseen  realities  of  the  world  to  come.  There 
will  be  an  intensity  of  desire  to  follow  in  the  path  that 
Jesus  trod.  There  will  be  an  earnest  longing  that 
those  around  us  may  behold  “  the  Lamb  of  God,  which 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.” 

And  the  effort  to  bless  others  will  react  in  blessings 
upon  ourselves.  This  was  the  purpose  of  God  in  giv¬ 
ing  us  a  part  to  act  in  the  plan  of  redemption.  He 
has  granted  men  the  privilege  of  becoming  partakers 
of  the  divine  nature,  and,  in  their  turn,  of  diffusing 
blessings  to  their  fellow  men.  This  is  the  highest 
honor,  the  greatest  joy,  that  it  is  possible  for  God  to 
bestow  upon  men.  Those  who  thus  become  partici¬ 
pants  in  labors  of  love  are  brought  nearest  to  their 
Creator. 

God  might  have  committed  the  message  of  the 
gospel,  and  all  the  work  of  loving  ministry,  to  the 
heavenly  angels.  He  might  have  employed  other 
means  for  accomplishing  His  purpose.  But  in  His 


84 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


infinite  love  He  chose  to  make  us  co-workers  with 
Himself,  with  Christ  and  the  angels,  that  we  might 
share  the  blessing,  the  joy,  the  spiritual  uplifting,  which 
results  from  this  unselfish  ministry. 

We  are  brought  into  sympathy  with  Christ  through 
the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings.  Every  act  of  self- 
sacrifice  for  the  good  of  others  strengthens  the  spirit 
of  beneficence  in  the  giver’s  heart,  allying  him  more 
closely  to  the  Redeemer  of  the  world,  who  “  was  rich, 
yet  for  your  sakes  became  poor,  that  ye  through  His 
poverty  might  be  rich.”  And  it  is  only  as  we  thus 
fulfil  the  divine  purpose  in  our  creation,  that  life  can 
be  a  blessing  to  us. 

If  you  will  go  to  work  as  Christ  designs  that  His 
disciples  shall,  and  win  souls  for  Him,  you  will  feel 
the  need  of  a  deeper  experience  and  a  greater  knowl¬ 
edge  in  divine  things,  and  will  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness.  You  will  plead  with  God,  and  your 
faith  will  be  strengthened,  and  your  soul  will  drink 
deeper  draughts  at  the  well  of  salvation.  Encountering 
opposition  and  trials  will  drive  you  to  the  Bible  and 
to  prayer.  You  will  grow  in  grace  and  the  knowledge 
of  Christ,  and  will  develop  a  rich  experience. 

The  spirit  of  unselfish  labor  for  others  gives  depth, 
stability,  and  Christlike  loveliness  to  the  character,  and 
brings  peace  and  happiness  to  its  possessor.  The 
aspirations  are  elevated.  There  is  no  room  for  sloth 
or  selfishness.  Those  who  thus  exercise  the  Christian 
graces  will  grow  and  will  become  strong  to  work  for 
God.  They  will  have  clear  spiritual  perceptions,  a 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LIFE  85 


steady,  growing1  faith,  and  an  increased  power  in 
prayer.  The  Spirit  of  God,  moving  upon  their  spirit, 
calls  forth  the  sacred  harmonies  of  the  soul,  in  answer 
to  the  divine  touch.  Those  who  thus  devote  them¬ 
selves  to  unselfish  effort  for  the  good  of  others,  are 
most  surely  working  out  their  own  salvation. 

The  only  way  to  grow  in  grace  is  to  be  disinter¬ 
estedly  doing  the  very  work  which  Christ  has  enjoined 
upon  us, — -  to  engage,  to  the  extent  of  our  ability,  in 
helping  and  blessing  those  who  need  the  help  we  can 
give  them.  Strength  comes  by  exercise ;  activity  is 
the  very  condition  of  life.  Those  who  endeavor  to 
maintain  Christian  life  by  passively  accepting  the  bless¬ 
ings  that  come  through  the  means  of  grace,  and  doing 
nothing  for  Christ,  are  simply  trying  to  live  by  eating 
without  working.  And  in  the  spiritual  as  in  the  natu¬ 
ral  world,  this  always  results  in  degeneration  and 
decay.  A  man  who  would  refuse  to  exercise  his  limbs 
would  soon  lose  all  power  to  use  them.  Thus  the 
Christian  who  will  not  exercise  his  God-given  powers, 
not  only  fails  to  grow  up  into  Christ,  but  he  loses  the 
strength  that  he  already  had. 

The  church  of  / Christ  is  God’s  appointed  agency 
for  the  salvation  of  men.  Its  mission  is  to  carry  the 
gospel  to  the  world.  And  the  obligation  rests  upon 
all  Christians.  Every  one,  to  the  extent  of  his  talent 
and  opportunity,  is  to  fulfil  the  Saviour’s  commission. 
The  love  of  Christ,  revealed  to  us,  makes  us  debtors 
to  all  who  know  Him  not.  God  has  given  us  light, 
not  for  ourselves  alone,  but  to  shed  upon  them. 


86 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


If  the  followers  of  Christ  were  awake  to  duty, 
there  would  be  thousands  where  there  is  one  to-day, 
proclaiming  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands.  And  all  who 
could  not  personally  engage  in  the  work,  would  yet 
sustain  it  with  their  means,  their  sympathy,  and  their 
prayers.  And  there  would  be  far  more  earnest  labor 
for  souls  in  Christian  countries. 

We  need  not  go  to  heathen  lands,  or  even  leave 
the  narrow  circle  of  the  home,  if  it  is  there  that  our 
duty  lies,  in  order  to  work  for  Christ.  We  can  do 
this  in  the  home  circle,  in  the  church,  among  those  with 
whom  we  associate,  and  with  whom  we  do  business. 

The  greater  part  of  our  Saviour’s  life  on  earth  was 
spent  in  patient  toil  in  the  carpenter’s  shop  at  Nazareth. 
Ministering  angels  attended  the  Lord  of  life  as  He 
walked  side  by  side  with  peasants  and  laborers,  unrec¬ 
ognized  and  unhonored.  He  was  as  faithfully  fulfill¬ 
ing  His  mission  while  working  at  His  humble  trade 
as  when  He  healed  the  sick  or  walked  upon  the  storm- 
tossed  waves  of  Galilee.  So,  in  the  humblest  duties 
and  lowliest  positions  of  life,  we  may  walk  and  work 
with  Jesus. 

The  apostle  says,  “  Let  every  man,  wherein  he  is 
called,  therein  abide  with  God.”  1  The  business  man 
may  conduct  his  business  in  a  way  that  will  glorify 
his  Master  because  of  his  fidelity.  If  he  is  a  true  fol¬ 
lower  of  Christ,  he  will  carry  his  religion  into  every¬ 
thing  that  is  done,  and  reveal  to  men  the  spirit  of 
Christ.  The  mechanic  may  be  a  diligent  and  faithful 
representative  of  Him  who  toiled  in  the  lowly  walks 

1  i  Cor.  7 :  24. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LIFE  87 


of  life  among  the  hills  of  Galilee.  Every  one  who 
names  the  name  of  Christ  should  so  work  that  others, 
by  seeing  his  good  works,  may  be  led  to  glorify  their 
Creator  and  Redeemer. 

Many  have  excused  themselves  from  rendering 
their  gifts  to  the  service  of  Christ  because  others  were 
possessed  of  superior  endowments  and  advantages. 
The  opinion  has  prevailed  that  only  those  who  are 
especially  talented  are  required  to  consecrate  their 
abilities  to  the  service  of  God.  It  has  come  to  be 
understood  by  many  that  talents  are  given  to  only  a 
certain  favored  class,  to  the  exclusion  of  others,  who, 
of  course,  are  not  called  upon  to  share  in  the  toils  or 
the  rewards.  But  it  is  not  so  represented  in  the  par¬ 
able.  When  the  master  of  the  house  called  his  serv¬ 
ants,  he  gave  to  every  man 
his  work. 

With  a  loving  spirit 
we  may  perform  life’s 
humblest  duties  “  as  to 
the  Lord.”  1  If  the  love 
of  God  is  in  the  heart,  it 
will  be  manifested  in  the 
life.  The  sweet  savor  of 
Christ  will  surround  us,  and 
our  influence  will  elevate  and 
bless. 

You  are  not  to  wait  for  great 
occasions  or  to  expect  extraordinary 
abilities  before  you  go  to  work  for  God. 

1  Col.  3:  23. 


He  walked  upon 
the  sicrm -tossed 
waves  of  Galilee 


88 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


You  need  not  have  a  thought  of  what  the  world  will 
think  of  you.  If  your  daily  life  is  a  testimony  to  the 
purity  and  sincerity  of  your  faith,  and  others  are 
convinced  that  you  desire  to  benefit  them,  your  efforts 
will  not  be  wholly  lost. 

The  humblest  and  poorest  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus 
can  be  a  blessing  to  others.  They  may  not  realize  that 
they  are  doing  any  special  good,  but  by  thei-r  uncon¬ 
scious  influence  they  may  start  waves  of  blessing  that 
will  widen  and  deepen,  and  the  blessed  results  they 
may  never  know  until  the  day  of  final  reward.  They 
do  not  feel  or  know  that  they  are  doing  anything  great. 
They  are  not  required  to  weary  themselves  with  anxi¬ 
ety  about  success.  They  have  only  to  go  forward 
quietly,  doing  faithfully  the  work  that  God’s  providence 
assigns,  and  their  life  will  not  be  in  vain.  Their  own 
souls  will  be  growing  more  and  more  into  the  likeness 
of  Christ ;  they  are  workers  together  with  God  in  this 
life,  and  are  thus  fitting  for  the  higher  work  and  the 
unshadowed  joy  of  the  life  to  come. 


A  Knowledge  of  God 


ANY  are  the  ways 
in  which  God  is 
seeking  to  make 
Himself  known  to 
us  and  to  bring  us 
into  communion 
with  Him.  Nature 
speaks  to  our  senses  without  ceasing. 
The  open  heart  will  be  impressed  with 
the  love  and  glory  of  God  as  revealed 
through  the  works  of  His  hands.  The 
listening  ear  can  hear  and  understand 
the  communications  of  God  through  the 
things  of  nature.  The  green  fields,  the 
lofty  trees,  the  buds  and  flowers,  the 
passing  cloud,  the  falling  rain,  the  bab¬ 
bling  brook,  the  glories  of  the  heavens, 
speak  to  our  hearts,  and  invite  us  to 
become  acquainted  with  Him  who  made  them  all. 

Our  Saviour  bound  up  His  precious  lessons  with 
the  things  of  nature.  The  trees,  the  birds,  the  flowers 
of  the  valleys,  the  hills,  the  lakes,  and  the  beautiful 
heavens,  as  well  as  the  incidents  and  surroundings  of 
daily  life,  were  all  linked  with  the  words  of  truth,  that 
His  lessons  might  thus  be  often  recalled  to  mind,  even 
amid  the  busv  cares  of  man’s  life  of  toil. 


Our  Saviour  bound  up  His 
precious  lessons  with  the 
things  of  nature 


9o 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


God  would  have  His  children  appreciate  His 
works,  and  delight  in  the  simple,  quiet  beauty  with 
which  He  has  adorned  our  earthly  home.  He  is  a 
lover  of  the  beautiful,  and  above  all 
that  is  outwardly  attractive  He  loves 
beauty  of  character ;  He  would 
have  us  cultivate  purity  and  sim¬ 
plicity,  the  quiet  graces  of  the 
flowers. 

If  we  will  but  listen,  God’s  created 
works  will  teach  us  precious  lessons 
obedience  and  trust.  .  From  the  stars  that 
in  their  trackless  course  through  space,  follow  He  who  upholds 

.  .  the  unnumbered 

from  age  to  age  their  appointed  path,  down  worlds 
to  the  minutest  atom,  the  things  of  nature  obey  the 
Creator’s  will.  And  God  cares  for  everything  and 
sustains  everything  that  He  has  created.  He  who 
upholds  the  unnumbered  worlds  throughout  immensity, 
at  the  same  time  cares  for  the  wants  of  the  little  brown 
sparrow  that  sings  its  humble  song  without  a  fear. 
When  men  go  forth  to  their  daily  toil,  as  when  they 
engage  in  prayer ;  when  they  lie  down  at  night,  and 
when  they  rise  in  the  morning;  when  the  rich  man 

feasts  in  his  palace,  or  when  the  poor 
man  gathers  his  children  about  the 
scanty  board,  each  is  tenderly  watched 
by  the  heavenly  Father.  No  tears 
are  shed  that  God  does  not  notice. 
There  is  no  smile  that  He  does  not 
mark. 


Cares  for  the  little 
brown  sparrow 


A  KNOWLEDGE  OF  GOD 


91 


If  vve  would  but  fully  believe  this,  all  undue  anxi¬ 
eties  would  be  dismissed.  Our  lives  would  not  be  so 
filled  with  disappointment  as  now ;  for  everything, 
whether  great  or  small,  would  be  left  in  the  hands 
of  God,  who  is  not  perplexed  by  the  multiplicity  of 
cares,  or  overwhelmed  by  their  weight.  We  should 
then  enjoy  a  rest  of  soul  to  which  many  have  long 
been  strangers. 

As  your  senses  delight  in  the  attractive  loveliness 
of  the  earth,  think  of  the  world  that  is  to  come,  that 
shall  never  know  the  blight  of  sin  and  death ;  where 
the  face  of  nature  will  no  more  wear  the  shadow  of 
the  curse.  Let  your  imagination  picture  the  home  of 
the  saved,  and  remember  that  it  will  be  more  glorious 
than  your  brightest  imagination  can  portray.  In  the 
varied  gifts  of  God  in  nature  we  see  but  the  faintest 
gleaming  of  His  glory.  It  is  written,  “  Eye  hath  not 
seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  love  Him.”  1 

The  poet  and  the  naturalist  have  many  things  to 
say  about  nature,  but  it  is  the  Christian  who  enjoys 
the  beauty  of  the  earth  with  the  highest  appreciation, 
because  he  recognizes  his  Father’s  handiwork,  and 
perceives  His  love  in  flower  and  shrub  and  tree.  No 
one  can  fully  appreciate  the  significance  of  hill  and 
vale,  river  and  sea,  who  does  not  look  upon  them  as 
an  expression  of  God’s  love  to  man. 

God  speaks  to  us  through  His  providential  work¬ 
ings,  and  through  the  influence  of  His  Spirit  upon  the 

1  i  Cor.  2:  9. 


* 


92 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


heart.  In  our  circumstances  and  surroundings,  in  the 
changes  daily  taking  place  around  us,  we  may  find 
precious  lessons,  if  our  hearts  are  but  open  to  discern 
them.  The  Psalmist,  tracing  the  work  of  God’s  provi¬ 
dence,  says,  “  The  earth  is  full  of  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord.” 1  “  Whoso  is  wise,  and  will  observe  these 

things,  even  they  shall  understand  the  loving-kindness 
of  the  Lord.”  2 

God  speaks  to  us  in  His  Word.  Here  we  have  in 
clearer  lines  the  revelation  of  His  character,  of  His 
dealings  with  men,  and  the  great  work  of  redemption. 
Here  is  open  before  us  the  history  of  patriarchs  and 
prophets  and  other  holy  men  of  old.  They  were 
men  “  subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are.”  3  We  see 
how  they  struggled  through  discouragements  l.he  our 
own,  how  they  fell  under  temptation  as  we  have  done, 
and  yet  took  heart  again  and  conquered  through  the 
grace  of  God :  and  beholding,  we  are  encouraged  in 
our  striving  after  righteousness.  As  we  read  of  the 
precious  experiences  granted  them,  of  the  light  and 
love  and  blessing  it  was  theirs  to  enjoy,  and  of  the 
work  they  wrought  through  the  grace  given  them,  the 
spirit  that  inspired  them  kindles  a  flame  of  holy  emu¬ 
lation  in  our  hearts,  and  a  desire  to  be  like  them  in 
character, —  like  them  to  walk  with  God. 

Jesus  said  of  the  Old-Testament  Scriptures, —  and 
how  much  more  is  it  true  of  the  New, —  “  They  are 
they  which  testify  of  Me,” 4  the  Redeemer,  Him  in 
whom  our  hopes  of  eternal  life  are  centered.  Yes, 
the  whole  Bible  tells  of  Christ.  From  the  first  record 


1  Ps.  33: 5- 
8  James  5 :  17. 


*  Ps.  107 :  43. 
4  John  5:  39. 


A  KNOWLEDGE  OF  GOD 


93 


of  creation, — *  for  “  without  Him  was  not  anything 
made  that  was  made,”  1 —  to  the  closing  promise,  “  Be¬ 
hold,  I  come  quickly,”  2  we  are  reading  of  His  works 
and  listening  to  His  voice.  If  you  would  become 
acquainted  with  the  Saviour,  study  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Fill  the  whole  heart  with  the  words  of  God.  They 
are  the  living  water,  quenching  your  burning  thirst. 
They  are  the  living  bread  from  heaven.  Jesus  de¬ 
clares,  “  Except  ye  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man, 
and  drink  His  blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you.”  And 
He  explains  Himself  by  saying,  “  The  words  that  I 
speak  unto  you,  they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life.”  3 
Our  bodies  are  built  up  from  what  we  eat  and  drink ; 
and  as  in  the  natural  economy,  so  in  the  spiritual 
economy :  it  is  what  we  meditate  upon  that  will  give 
tone  and  strength  to  our  spiritual  nature. 

The  theme  of  redemption  is  one  that  the  angels 
desire  to  look  into ;  it  will  be  the  science  and  the  song 
of  the  redeemed  throughout  th£  ceaseless  ages  of 
eternity.  Is  it  not  worthy  of  careful  thought  and 
study  now?  The  infinite  mercy  and  love  of  Jesus,  the 
sacrifice  made  in  our  behalf,  call  for  the  most  serious 
and  solemn  reflection.  We  should  dwell  upon  the 
character  of  our  dear  Redeemer  and  Intercessor.  We 
should  meditate  upon  the  mission  of  Him  who  came 
to  save  His  people  from  their  sins.  As  we  thus  con¬ 
template  heavenly  themes,  our  faith  and  love  will 
grow  stronger,  and  our  prayers  will  be  more  and 
more  acceptable  to  God,  because  they  will  be  more 
and  more  mixed  with  faith  and  love.  They  will  be 

1  John  1:3.  2  Rev.  22:  12. 


3  John  6:  53,  63. 


94 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


intelligent  and  fervent.  There  will  be  more  constant 
confidence  in  Jesus,  and  a  daily,  living  experience  in 
His  power  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come  unto 
God  by  Him. 

As  we  meditate  upon  the  perfections  of  the 
Saviour,  we  shall  desire  to  be  wholly  transformed,  and 
renewed  in  the  image  of  His  purity.  There  will  be  a 
hungering  and  thirsting  of  soul  to  become  like  Him 
whom  we  adore.  The  more  our  thoughts  are  upon 
Christ,  the  more  we  shall  speak  of  Him  to  others, 
and  represent  Him  to  the  world. 

The  Bible  was  not  written  for  the  scholar  alone ; 
on  the  contrary,  it  was  designed  for  the  common  peo¬ 
ple.  The  great  truths  necessary  for  salvation  are 
made  as  clear  as  noonday ;  and  none  will  mistake  and 
lose  their  way  except  those  who  follow  their  own 
judgment  instead  of  the  plainly  revealed  will  of  God. 

We  should  not  take  the  testimony  of  any  man  as 
to  what  the  Scriptures  teach,  but  should  study  the 
words  of  God  for  ourselves.  If  we  allow  others  to 
do  our  thinking,  we  shall  have  crippled  energies  and 
contracted  abilities.  The  noble  powers  of  the  mind 
may  be  so  dwarfed  by  lack  of  exercise  on  themes 
worthy  of  their  concentration  as  to  lose  their  ability 
to  grasp  the  deep  meaning  of  the  Word  of  God.  The 
mind  will  enlarge  if  it  is  employed  in  tracing  out  the 
relation  of  the  subjects  of  the  Bible,  comparing  scrip¬ 
ture  with  scripture,  and  spiritual  things  with  spiritual. 

There  is  nothing  more  calculated  to  strengthen  the 
intellect  than  the  study  of  the  Scriptures.  No  other 


A  KNOWLEDGE  OF  GOD 


95 


book  is  so  potent  to  elevate  the  thoughts,  to  give  vigor 
to  the  faculties,  as  the  broad,  ennobling  truths  of  the 
Bible.  If  God’s  Word  were  studied  as  it  should  be, 
men  would  have  a  breadth  of  mind,  a  nobility  of  char¬ 
acter,  and  a  stability  of  purpose  that  is  rarely  seen  in 
these  times. 

But  there  is  but  little  benefit  derived  from  a  hasty 
reading  of  the  Scriptures.  One  may  read  the  whole 
Bible  through,  and  yet  fail  to  see  its  beauty  or  com¬ 
prehend  its  deep  and  hidden  meaning.  One  passage 
studied  until  its  significance  is  clear  to  the  mind,  and 
its  relation  to  the  plan  of  salvation  is  evident,  is  of 
more  value  than  the  perusal  of  many  chapters  with 
no  definite  purpose  in  view  and  no  positive  instruc¬ 
tion  gained.  Keep  your  Bible  with  you.  As  you  have 
opportunity,  read  it ;  fix  the  texts  in  your  memory. 
Even  while  you  are  walking  the  streets,  you  may 
read  a  passage,  and  meditate  upon  it,  thus  fixing 
it  in  the  mind. 

We  can  not  obtain  wisdom  without  earnest  atten¬ 
tion  and  prayerful  study.  Some  portions  of  Scrip¬ 
ture  are  indeed  too  plain  to  be  misunderstood ;  but 
there  are  others  whose  meaning  does  not  lie  on  the 
surface,  to  be  seen  at  a  glance.  Scripture  must  be 
compared  with  scripture.  There  must  be  careful  re¬ 
search  and  prayerful  reflection.  And  such  study  will 
be  richly  repaid.  As  the  miner  discovers  veins  of  pre¬ 
cious  metal  concealed  beneath  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
so  will  he  who  perseveringly  searches  the  Word  of 
God  as  for  hid  treasure,  find  truths  of  the  greatest 


96 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


value,  which  are  concealed  from  the  view  of  the 
careless  seeker.  The  words  of  inspiration,  pon¬ 
dered  in  the  heart,  will  be  as  streams  flowing  from 
the  fountain  of  life. 

Never  should  the  Bible  be  studied  with¬ 
out  prayer.  Before  opening  its  pages 
we  should  ask  for  the  enlighten¬ 
ment  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  it 
will  be  given.  When  Nathanael 
came  to  Jesus,  the  Saviour 
exclaimed,  “  Behold  an  Is¬ 
raelite  indeed,  in  whom  is 
no  guile  !  ”  Nathanael  said, 
“Whence  knowest  Thou 
me?”  Jesus  answered,  “  Before 
that  Philip  called  thee,  when 
thou  wast  under  the  fig  tree,  I 
saw  thee.”  1  And  Jesus  will  see  us  also  in  the  secret 
places  of  prayer,  if  we  will  seek  Him  for  light,  that  we 
may  know  what  is  truth.  Angels  from  the  world  of 
light  will  be  with  those  who  in  humility  of  heart  seek 
for  divine  guidance. 

The  Holy  Spirit  exalts  and  glorifies  the  Saviour. 
It  is  His  office  to  present  Christ,  the  purity  of  His 
righteousness,  and  the  great  salvation  that  we  have 
through  Him.  Jesus  says,  “  He  shall  receive  of  Mine, 
and  shall  show  it  unto  you.”  2  The  Spirit  of  truth  is 
the  only  effectual  teacher  of  divine  truth.  How  must 
God  esteem  the  human  race,  since  He  gave  His  Son 
to  die  for  them,  and  appoints  His  Spirit  to  be  man’s 
teacher  and  continual  guide. 

1  John  i :  47,  48. 


As  the  miner  discovers  veins 
of  precious  metal 


2  John  16:  14 


The  Privilege  of  Prayer 


THROUGH  nature  and  revelation,  through  His 
providence,  and  by  the  influence  of  His  Spirit, 
God  speaks  to  us.  But  these  are  not  enough ;  we 
need  also  to  pour  out  our  hearts  to  Him.  In  order  to 
have  spiritual  life  and  energy,  we  must  have  actual 
intercourse  with  our  heavenly  Father.  Our  minds 
may  be  drawn  out  toward  Him ;  we  may  meditate  upon 
His  works,  Flis  mercies,  His  blessings ;  but  this  is  not, 
in  the  fullest  sense,  communing  with  Him.  In  order 
to  commune  with  God,  we  must  have  something  to 
say  to  Him  concerning  our  actual  life. 

Prayer  is  the  opening  of  the  heart  to  God  as  to  a 
friend.  Not  that  it  is  necessary,  in  order  to  make 
known  to  God  what  we  are,  but  in  order  to  enable  us 
to  receive  Him.  Prayer  does  not  bring  God  down  to 
us,  but  brings  us  up  to  Him. 

When  Jesus  was  upon  the  earth,  He  taught  His 
disciples  how  to  pray.  He  directed  them  to  present 
their  daily  needs  before  God,  and  to  cast  all  their  care 
upon  Him.  And  the  assurance  He  gave  them  that 
their  petitions  should  be  heard,  is  assurance  also  to  us. 

Jesus  Himself,  while  He  dwelt  among  men,  was 
often  in  prayer.  Our  Saviour  identified  Himself 
with  our  needs  and  weakness,  in  that  He  became  a 
suppliant,  a  petitioner,  seeking  from  His  Father  fresh 
supplies  of  strength,  that  He  might  come  forth  braced 
for  duty  and  trial.  He  is  our  example  in  all  things. 
7 


98 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


He  is  a  brother  in  our  infirmities,  “  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are ;  ”  but  as  the  sinless  one,  His 
nature  recoiled  from  evil ;  He  endured  struggles  and 
torture  of  soul  in  a  world  of  sin.  His  humanity  made 
prayer  a  necessity  and  a  privilege.  He  found  com¬ 
fort  and  joy  in  communion  with  His  Father.  And  if 
the  Saviour  of  men,  the  Son  of  God,  felt  the  need  of 
prayer,  how  much  more  should  feeble,  sinful  mortals 
feel  the  necessity  of  fervent,  constant  prayer. 

Our  heavenly  Father  waits  to  bestow  upon  us  the 
fulness  of  His  blessing.  It  is  our  privilege  to  drink 
largely  at  the  fountain  of  ooundless  love.  What  a 
wonder  it  is  that  we  pray  jo  little !  God  is  ready  and 
willing  to  hear  the  sincere  prayer  of  the  humblest  of 
His  children,  and  yet  there  is  much  manifest  reluc¬ 
tance  on  our  part  to  make  known  our  wants  to  God. 
What  can  the  angels  of  heaven  think  of  poor  helpless 
human  beings,  who  are  subject  to  temptation,  when 
God’s  heart  of  infinite  love  yearns  toward  them,  ready 
to  give  them  more  than  they  can  ask  or  think,  and 
yet  they  pray  so  little,  and  have  so  little  faith?  The 
angels  love  to  bow  before  God ;  they  love  to  be  near 
Him.  They  regard  communion  with  God  as  their 
highest  joy;  and  yet  the  children  of  earth,  who  need 
so  much  the  help  that  God  only  can  give,  seem  sat¬ 
isfied  to  walk  without  the  light  of  His  Spirit,  the 
companionship  of  His  presence. 

The  darkness  of  the  evil  one  encloses  those  who 
neglect  to  pray.  The  whispered  tempftitions  of  the 
enemy  entice  them  to  sin ;  and  it  is  all  because  they 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER 


99 


do  not  make  use  of  the  privileges  that  God  has  given 
them  in  the  divine  appointment  of  prayer.  Why  should 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  God  be  reluctant  to  pray, 
when  prayer  is  the  key  in  the  hand  of  faith  to  unlock 
heaven’s  storehouse,  where  are  treasured  the  bound¬ 
less  resources  of  Omnipotence?  Without  unceasing 
prayer  and  diligent  watching,  we  are  in  danger  of 
growing  careless  and  of  deviating  from  the  right  path. 
The  adversary  seeks  continually  to  obstruct  the  way 
to  the  mercy-seat,  that  we  may  not  by  earnest  suppli¬ 
cation  and  faith  obtain  grace  and  power  to  resist 
temptation. 

There  are  certain  conditions  upon  which  we  may 
expect  that  God  will  hear  and  answer  our  prayers. 
One  of  the  first  of  these  is  that  we  feel  our  need  of 
help  from  Him.  He  has  promised,  “  I  will  pour 
water  upon  him  that  'is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the 
dry  ground.”  1  Those  who  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness,  who  long  after  God,  may  be  sure  that 
they  will  be  filled.  The  heart  must  be  open  to  the 
Spirit’s  influence,  or  God’s  blessing  can  not  be  received. 

Our  great  need  is  itself  an  argument,  and  pleads 
most  eloquently  in  our  behalf.  But  the  Lord  is  to  be 
sought  unto  to  do  these  things  for  us.  He  says,  “Ask, 
and  it  shall  be  given  you.”  And  “  He  that  spared 
not  His  own  Son,  but  delivered  Him  up  for  us  all, 
how  shall  He  not  with  Him  also  freely  give  us  all 
things  ?  ”  2 

If  we  regard  iniquity  in  our  hearts,  if  we  cling  to 
any  known  sin,  the  Lord  will  not  hear  us  ;  but  the 

1  Isa.  44:3.  2  Matt.  7:7;  Rom.  8:32. 


IOO 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


prayer  of  the  penitent,  contrite  soul  is  always  accepted. 
When  all  known  wrongs  are  righted,  we  may  believe 
that  God  will  answer  our  petitions.  Our  own  merit 
will  never  commend  us  to  the  favor  of  God;  it  is  the 
worthiness  of  Jesus  that  will  save  us,  His  blood  that 
will  cleanse  us ;  yet  we  have  a  work  to  do  in  com¬ 
plying  with  the  conditions  of  acceptance. 

Another  element  of  prevailing  prayer  is  faith. 
“  He  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  He  is, 
and  that  He  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek 
Him.” 1  Jesus  said  to  His  disciples,  “  What  things 
soever  ye  desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive 
them,  and  ye  shall  have  them.”  2  Do  we  take  Him 
at  His  word  ? 

The  assurance  is  broad  and  unlimited,  and  He  is 
faithful  who  has  promised.  When  we  do  not  receive 
the  very  things  we  ask  for,  at  the  time  we  ask,  we 
are  still  to  believe  that  the  Lord  hears,  and  that  He 
will  answer  our  prayers.  We  are  so  erring  and 
shortsighted  that  we  sometimes  ask  for  things  that 
would  not  be  a  blessing  to  us,  and  our  heavenly 
Father  in  love  answers  our  prayers  by  giving  us  that 
which  will  be  for  our  highest  good, —  that  which  we 
ourselves  would  desire  if  with  vision  divinely  enlight¬ 
ened  we  could  see  all  things  as  they  really  are.  When 
our  prayers  seem  not  to  be  answered,  we  are  to  cling 
to  the  promise ;  for  the  time  of  answering  will  surely 
come,  and  we  shall  receive  the  blessing  we  need  most. 
But  to  claim  that  prayer  will  always  be  answered  in 
die  very  way  and  for  the  particular  thing  that  we 

1  Heb-  ii :  6  2  Mark  11:24. 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER 


IOI 


desire,  is  presumption.  God  is  too  wise  to  err,  and 
too  good  to  withhold  any  good  thing  from  them  that 
walk  uprightly.  Then  do  not  fear  to  trust  Him,  even 
though  you  do  not  see  the  immediate  answer  to  your 
prayers.  Rely  upon  His  sure  promise,  “  Ask,  and  it 
shall  be  given  you.”  1 

If  we  take  counsel  with  our  doubts  and  fears,  or 
try  to  solve  everything  that  we  can  not  see  clearly, 
before  we  have  faith,  perplexities  will  only  increase 
and  deepen.  But  if  we  come  to  God,  feeling  helpless 
and  dependent,  as  we  really  are,  and  in  humble,  trust¬ 
ing  faith  make  known  our  wants  to  Him  whose  knowl¬ 
edge  is  infinite,  who  sees  everything  in  creation,  and 
who  governs  everything  by  His  will  and  word,  He 
can  and  will  attend  to  our  cry,  and  will  let  light  shine 
into  our  hearts.  Through  sincere  prayer  we  are 
brought  into  connection  with  the  mind  of  the  Infinite. 
We  mav  have  no  remarkable  evidence  at  the  time  that  , 
the  face  of  our  Redeemer  is  bending  over  us  in  com¬ 
passion  and  love ;  but  this  is  even  so.  We  may  not 
feel  His  visible  touch,  but  His  hand  is  upon  us  in  love 
and  pitying  tenderness. 

When  we  come  to  ask  mercy  and  blessing  from 
God,  we  should  have  a  spirit  of  love  and  forgiveness 
in  our  own  hearts.  How  can  we  pray,  “  Forgive  us 
our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors,”  2  and  yet  indulge 
an  unforgiving  spirit?  If  we  expect  our  own  prayers, 
to  be  heard,  we  must  forgive  others  in  the  same  man¬ 
ner,  and  to  the  same  extent,  as  we  hope  to  be  forgiven. 

Perseverance  in  prayer  has  been  made  a  condition 

1  Matt.  7:7.  2  Matt.  6:  12. 


102 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


of  receiving.  We  must  pray  always,  if  we  would 
grow  in  faith  and  experience.  We  are  to  be  “  instant 
in  prayer,”  to  “  continue  in  prayer,  and  watch  in  the 
same  with  thanksgiving.” 1  Peter  exhorts  believers 
to  be  “  sober,  and  watch  unto  prayer.”  2  Paul  directs, 
“  In  everything  by  prayer  and  supplication  with 
thanksgiving  let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God.”  3  “But  ye,  beloved,”  says  Jude,  “praying  in 
the  Holy  Ghost,  keep  yourselves  in  the  love  of  God.”  4 
Unceasing  prayer  is  the  unbroken  union  of  the  soul 
with  God,  so  that  life  from  God  flows  into  our  life ; 
and  from  our  life,  purity  and  holiness  flow  back  to 
God. 

There  is  necessity  for  diligence  in  prayer ;  let  noth¬ 
ing  hinder  you.  Make  every  effort  to  keep  open  the 
communion  between  Jesus  and  your  own  soul.  Seek 
every  opportunity  to  go  where  prayer  is  wont  to  be 
made.  Those  who  are  really  seeking  for  communion 
with  God,  will  be  seen  in  the  prayer-meeting,  faithful 
to  do  their  duty,  and  earnest  and  anxious  to  reap  all 
the  benefits  they  can  gain.  They  will  improve  every 
opportunity  of  placing  themselves  where  they  can 
receive  the  rays  of  light  from  heaven. 

We  should  pray  in  the  family  circle;  and  above 
all  we  must  not  neglect  secret  prayer;  for  this  is  the 
life  of  the  soul.  It  is  impossible  for  the  soul  to  flourish 
while  prayer  is  neglected.  Family  or  public  prayer 
alone  is  not  sufficient.  In  solitude  let  the  soul  be  laid 
open  to  the  inspecting  eye  of  God.  Secret  prayer  is 
to  be  heard  only  by  the  prayer-hearing  God.  No 

1  Rom.  1 2:  12;  Col.  4:2.  *  1  Peter  4:  7. 

3  Phil.  4:6.  4  Jude  20,  21. 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER  103 


curious  ear  is  to  receive  the  burden  ot  such  petitions. 
In  secret  prayer  the  soul  is  free  from  surrounding  in¬ 
fluences,  free  from  excitement.  Calmly,  yet  fervently, 
will  it  reach  out  after  God.  Sweet  and  abiding  will  be 
the  influence  emanating  from  Him  who  seeth  in  secret, 
whose  ear  is  open  to  hear  the  prayer  arising  from  the 
heart.  By  calm,  simple  faith,  the  soul  holds  com¬ 
munion  with  God,  and  gathers  to  itself  rays  of  divine 
light  to  strengthen  and  sustain  it  in  the  conflict  with 
Satan.  God  is  our  tower  of  strength. 


Pray  in  your  closet 
your  daily  labor,  let 
lifted  to  God.  It 
walked  with  God. 
prayers  rise  like 
before  the  throne 
can  not  overcome 
is  thus  stayed 
There  is  no 


These  silent  prayers  rise 
like  precious  incense 


and  as  you  go  about 
your  heart  be  often  up- 
was  thus  that  Enoch 
These  silent 
precious  incense 
of  grace.  Satan 
him  whose  heart 
upon  God. 
time  or  place 

<  1  yivvivuo  111VV.HCW 

in  which  it  is  inappropriate  to 

ofifer  up  a  petition  to  God.  There  is  nothing  that  can 
prevent  us  from  lifting  up  our  hearts  in  the  spirit  of 
earnest  prayer.  In  the  crowds  of  the  street,  in  the 
midst  of  a  business  engagement,  we  may  send  up  a 
petition  to  God,  and  plead  for  divine  guidance,  as  did 
Nehemiah  when  he  made  his  request  before  King  Ar- 
taxerxes.  A  closet  of  communion  may  be  found  wher¬ 
ever  we  are.  We  should  have  the  door  of  the  heart  open 
continually,  and  our  invitation  going  up  that  Jesus 
may  come  and  abide  as  a  heavenly  guest  in  the  soul. 


104 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


As  did  Nehemiah  when 
he  made  his  request 
before  Artaxerxes 


Although  there  may  be  a  tainted,  corrupted 
atmosphere  around  us,  we  need  not  breathe  its 
miasma,  but  may  live  in  the  pure  air  of  heaven.  We 
may  close  every  door  to  impure  imaginings  and  un¬ 
holy  thoughts  by  lifting  the  soul  into  the  pres¬ 

ence  of  God  through  sincere 
prayer.  Those  whose  hearts 
are  open  to  receive  the 
support  and  blessing  of 
God  will  walk  in  a  holier 
atmosphere  than  that 
of  earth,  and  will  have 
constant  communion 
with  Heaven. 

We  need  to  have  more 
distinct  views  of  Jesus, 
and  a  fuller  comprehen¬ 
sion  of  the  value  of  eternal 
realities.  The  beauty  of  holi¬ 
ness  is  to  fill  the  hearts  of  God’s 
children  ;  and  that  this  may  be  accomplished, 
we  should  seek  for  divine  disclosures  of  heav¬ 
enly  things. 

Let  the  soul  be  drawn  out  and  upward,  that  God 
may  grant  us  a  breath  of  the  heavenly  atmosphere.  We 
may  keep  so  near  to  God  that  in  every  unexpected 
trial  our  thoughts  will  turn  to  Him  as  naturally  as 
the  flower  turns  to  the  sun. 

Keep  your  wants,  your  joys,  your  sorrows,  your 
cares,  and  your  fears,  before  God.  You  can  not  bur- 


'  - 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER  105 


den  Him ;  you  can  not  weary  Him.  He  who  numbers 
the  hairs  of  your  head  is  not  indifferent  to  the  wants 
of  His  children.  “  The  Lord  is  very  pitiful,  and  of 
tender  mercy.”  1  His  heart  of  love  is  touched  by  our 
sorrows,  and  even  by  our  utterance  of  them.  Take  to 
Him  everything  that  perplexes  the  mind.  Nothing  is 
too  great  for  Him  to  bear,  for  He  holds  up  worlds,  He 
rules  over  all  the  affairs  of  the  universe.  Nothing 
that  in  any  way  concerns  our  peace  is  too  small  for 
Him  to  notice.  There  is  no  chapter  in  our  experience 
too  dark  for  Him  to  read;  there  is  no  perplexity  too 
difficult  for  Him  to  unravel.  No  calamity,  can  befall 
the  least  of  His  children,  no  anxiety  harass  the  soul, 
no  joy  cheer,  no  sincere  prayer  escape  the  lips,  of 
which  our  heavenly  Father  is  unobservant,  or  in  which 
He  takes  no  immediate  interest.  “  He  healeth  the 
broken  in  heart,  and  bindeth  up  their  wounds.”  2  The 
relations  between  God  and  each  soul  are  as  distinct 
and  full  as  though  there  were  not  another  soul  for 
whom  He  gave  His  beloved  Son. 

Jesus  said,  “Ye  shall  ask  in  My  name:  and  I  say 

not  unto  you,  that  I  will  pray  the  Father  for  you :  for 

the  Father  Himself  loveth  you.”  “  I  have  chosen 

you,  .  .  .  that  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father 

in  My  name,  He  may  give  it  you.”  3  But  to  pray  in 

the  name  of  Jesus  is  something  more  than  a  mere 

mention  of  that  name  at  the  beginning  and  the  ending 

♦ 

of  a  prayer.  It  is  to  pray  in  the  mind  and  spirit  of 
Jesus,  while  we  believe  His  promises,  rely  upon  His 
grace,  and  work  His  works. 

1  James  5:11.  2  Ps.  147:7 


3  John  16:  26,  27;  15:  16. 


io6 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


God  does  not  mean  that  any  of  us  should  become 
hermits  or  monks,  and  retire  from  the  world,  in  order 
to  devote  ourselves  to  acts  of  worship.  The  life  must 
be  like  Christ’s  life, —  between  the  mountain  and  the 
multitude.  He  who  does  nothing  but  pray  will  soon 
cease  to  pray,  or  his  prayers  will  become  a  formal  rou¬ 
tine.  When  men  take  themselves  out  of  social  life, 
away  from  the  sphere  of  Christian  duty  and  cross¬ 
bearing;  when  they  cease  to  work  earnestly  for  the 
Master,  who  worked  earnestly  for  them,  they  lose 
the  subject-matter  of  prayer,  and  have  no  incentive  to 
devotion.  Their  prayers  become  personal  and  selfish. 
They  can  not  pray  in  regard  to  the  wants  of  humanity 
or  the  upbuilding  of  Christ’s  kingdom,  pleading  for 
strength  wherewith  to  work. 

We  sustain  a  loss  when  we  neglect  the  privilege 
of  associating  together  to  strengthen  and  encourage 
one  another  in  the  service  of  God.  The  truths  of  His 
Word  lose  their  vividness  and  importance  in  our  minds. 
Our  hearts  cease  to  be  enlightened  and  aroused  by  their 
sanctifying  influence,  and  we  decline  in  spirituality. 
In  our  association  as  Christians  we  lose  much  by  lack 
of  sympathy  with  one  another.  He  who  shuts  himself 
up  to  himself  is  not  filling  the  position  that  God  de¬ 
signed  he  should.  The  proper  cultivation  of  the  social 
elements  in  our  nature  brings  us  into  sympathy  with 
others,  and  is  a  means  of  development  and  strength  to 
us  in  the  service  of  God. 

If  Christians  would  associate  together,  speaking 
to  each  other  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of  the  precious 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER  '  107 


truths  of  redemption,  their  own  hearts  would  be  re¬ 
freshed,  and  they  would  refresh  one  anothc:*.  We 
may  be  daily  learning'  more  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
gaining  a  fresh  experience  of  His  grace ;  4  hen  we  shall 
desire  to  speak  of  His  love;  and  as  we  do  his,  our 
own  hearts  will  be  warmed  and  encouraged.  If  we 
thought  and  talked  more  of  Jesus,  and  less  of  self,  we 
should  have  far  more  of  His  presence. 

If  we  would  but  think  of  God  as  often  as  we  have 
evidence  of  His  care  for  us,  we  should  keep  Him 
ever  in  our  thoughts,  and  should  delight  to  talk  of 
Him  and  to  praise  Him.  We  talk  of  temporal  things 
because  we  have  an  interest  in  them.  We  talk  of  our 
friends  because  we  love  them;  our  joys  and  our  sor¬ 
rows  are  bound  up  with  them.  Yet  we  have  infinitely 
greater  reason  to  love  God  than  to  love  our  earthly 
friends ;  and  it  should  be  the  most  natural  thing  in 
the  world  to  make  Him  first  in  all  our  thoughts,  to 
talk  of  His  goodness  and  tell  of  His  power.  The 
rich  gifts  He  has  bestowed  upon  us  were  not  intended 
to  absorb  our  thoughts  and  love  so  much  that  we 
should  have  nothing  to  give  to  God ;  they  are  con¬ 
stantly  to  remind  us  of  Him,  and  to  bind  us  in  bonds 
of  love  and  gratitude  to  our  heavenly  Benefactor.  We 
dwell  too  near  the  lowlands  of  earth.  Let  us  raise 
our  eyes  to  the  open  door  of  the  sanctuary  above, 
where  the  light  of  the  glory  of  God  shines  in  the  face 
of  Christ,  who  “  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter¬ 
most  that  come  unto  God  by  Him.”  1 

W e  need  to  praise  God  more  “  for  His  goodness, 

1  Heb.  7:  25. 


io8 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


and  for  His  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men.”  1 
Our  devotional  exercises  should  not  consist  wholly 
in  asking-  and  receiving.  Let  us  not  be  always  think¬ 
ing  of  our  wants,  and  never  of  the  benefits  we  receive. 
We  do  not  pray  any  too  much,  but  wTe  are  too  sparing 
of  giving  thanks.  We  are  the  constant  recipients  of 
God’s  mercies,  and  yet  how  little  gratitude  we  express, 
how  little  we  praise  Him  for  what  He  has  done  for  us. 

Anciently  the  Lord  bade  Israel,  when  they  met 
together  for  His  service,  “  Ye  shall  eat  before  the 
Lord  your  God,  and  ye  shall  rejoice  in  all  that  ye 
put  your  hand  unto,  ye  and  your  households,  wherein 
the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee.”  2  That  which 
is  done  for  the  glory  of  God  should  be  done  with 
cheerfulness,  with  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving, 
not  with  sadness  and  gloom. 

Our  God  is  a  tender,  merciful  Father.  His  service 
should  not  be  looked  upon  as  a  heart-saddening,  dis¬ 
tressing  exercise.  It  should  be  a  pleasure  to  worship 
the  Lord  and  to  take  part  in  His  work.  God  would 
not  have  His  children,  for  whom  so  great  salvation 
has  been  provided,  act  as  if  He  were  a  hard,  exacting 
taskmaster.  He  is  their  best  friend ;  and  when  they 
worship  Him,  He  expects  to  be  with  them,  to  bless 
and  comfort  them,  filling  their  hearts  with  joy  and 
love.  The  Lord  desires  His  children  to  take  comfort 
in  His  service,  and  to  find  more  pleasure  than  hard¬ 
ship  in  His  work.  He  desires  that  those  who  come  to 
worship  Him  shall  carry  away  with  them  precious 
thoughts  of  His  care  and  love,  that  they  may  be  cheered 

•  1  Ps.  107:8.  2  Deut.  .2 :  7. 


THE  PRIVILEGE  OF  PRAYER  109 

in  all  the  employments  of  daily  life,  that  they  may 
have  grace  to  deal  honestly  and  faithfully  in  all  things. 

We  must  gather  about  the  cross.  Christ  and  Him 
crucified  should  be  the  theme  of  contemplation,  of 
conversation,  and  of  our  most  joyful  emotion.  We 
should  keep  in  our  thoughts  every  blessing  we  receive 
from  God,  and  when  we  realize  His  great  love,  we 
should  be  willing  to  trust  everything  to  the  hand  that 
was  nailed  to  the  cross  f'or  us. 

The  soul  may  ascend  nearer  heaven  on  the  wings 
of  praise.  God  is  worshiped  with  song  and  music  in 
the  courts  above,  and  as  we  express  our  gratitude,  we 
are  approximating  to  the  worship  of  the  heavenly  hosts. 
“  Whoso  ofifereth  praise  glorifieth  ”  God.1  Let  us  with 
reverent  joy  come  before  our  Creator,  with  “  thanks¬ 
giving*,  and  the  voice  of  melody.”  2 

'  Ps.  50:  23.  2  Isa.  51 :  3, 


r 


Trust  everything  to  the  hand  that 
was  nailed  !o  the  ecus. 


What  To  Do  With  Doubt 


MANY,  especially  those  who  are  young  in  the 
Christian  life,  are  at  times  troubled  with  the 
suggestions  of  skepticism.  There  are  in  the  Bible 
many  things  which  they  can  not  explain,  or  even 
understand,  and  Satan  employs  these  to  shake  their 
faith  in  the  Scriptures  as  a  revelation  from  God.  They 
ask,  “  How  shall  I  know  the  right  way?  If  the  Bible 
is  indeed  the  Word  of  God,  how  can  I  be  freed  from 
these  doubts  and  perplexities  ?  ” 

God  never  asks  us  to  believe,  without  giving  suffi¬ 
cient  evidence  upon  which  to  base  our  faith.  His 
existence,  His  character,  the  truthfulness  of  His  Word, 
are  all  established  by  testimony  that  appeals  to  our 
reason ;  and  this  testimony  is  abundant.  Yet  God  has 
never  removed  the  possibility  of  doubt.  Our  faith 
must  rest  upon  evidence,  not  demonstration.  Those 
who  wish  to  doubt  will  have  opportunity ;  while  those 
who  really  desire  to  know  the  truth,  will  find  plenty 
of  evidence  on  which  to  rest  their  faith. 

It  is  impossible  for  finite  minds  fully  to  compre¬ 
hend  the  character  or  the  works  of  the  Infinite  One. 
To  the  keenest  intellect,  the  most  highly  educated 
mind,  that  holy  Being  must  ever  remain  clothed  in 
mystery.  “  Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out  God  ? 
canst  thou  find  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection?  It 
is  as  high  as  heaven ;  what  canst  thou  do  ?  deeper 
than  hell ;  what  canst  thou  know  ?  ”  1 

1  Job  1 1 :  7,  8. 


WHAT  TO  DO  WITH  DOUBT 


1 1 1 


The  apostle  Paul  exclaims,  “  O  the  depth  of  the 
riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God! 
how  unsearchable  are  His  judgments,  and  His  ways 
past  finding  out !  ”  1  But  though  “  clouds  and  dark¬ 
ness  are  round  about  Him,”  “righteousness  and  judg¬ 
ment  are  the  foundation  of  His  throne.”  2  We  can 
so  far  comprehend  His  dealing  with  us,  and  the  motives 
by  which  He  is  actuated,  that  we  may  discern  bound¬ 
less  love  and  mercy  United  to  infinite  power.  We  can 
understand  as  much  of  His  purposes  as  it  is  for  our 
good  to  know ;  and  beyond  this  we  must  still  trust  the 
hand  that  is  omnipotent,  the  heart  that  is  full  of  love. 

The  Word  of  God,  like  the  character  of  its  divine 
Author,  presents  mysteries  that  can  never  be  fully 
comprehended  by  finite  beings.  The  entrance  of  sin 
into  the  world,  the  incarnation  of  Christ,  regeneration, 
the  resurrection,  and  many  other  subjects  presented 
in  the  Bible,  are  mysteries  too  deep  for  the  human 
mind  to  explain,  or  even  fully  to  comprehend.  But  we 
have  no  reason  to  doubt  God’s  Word  because  we  can 
not  understand  the  mysteries  of  His  providence.  In 
the  natural  world  we  are  constantly  surrounded  with 
mysteries  that  we  can  not  fathom.  The  very  humblest 
forms  of  life  present  a  problem  that  the  wisest  of 
philosophers  is  powerless  to  explain.  Everywhere  are 
wonders  beyond  our  ken.  Should  we  then  be  sur¬ 
prised  to  find  that  in  the  spiritual  world  also  there  are 
mysteries  that  we  can  not  fathom?  The  difficulty  lies 
solely  in  the  weakness  and  narrowness  of  the  human 
mind.  God  has  given  us  in  the  Scriptures  sufficient 

1  Rom.  11:33.  2  Ps.  97:2,  R.  V. 


I  12 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


evidence  of  their  divine  character,  and  we  are  not  to 
doubt  His  Word  because  we  can  not  understand  all 
the  mysteries  of  His  providence. 

The  apostle  Peter  says  that  there  are  in  Scripture 
“  things  hard  to  be  understood,  which  they  that  are 
unlearned  and  unstable  wrest  .  .  .  unto-  their  own 
destruction.”  1  The  difficulties  of  Scripture  have  been 
urged  by  skeptics  as  an  argument  against  the  Bible ; 
but  so  far  from  this,  they  constitute  a  strong  evidence 
of  its  divine  inspiration.  If  it  contained  no  account 
of  God  but  that  which  we  could  easily  comprehend ; 
if  His  greatness  and  majesty  could  be  grasped  by 
finite  minds,  then  the  Bible  would  not  bear  the  unmis¬ 
takable  credentials  of  divine  authority.  The  very 
grandeur  and  mystery  of  the  themes  presented,  should 
inspire  faith  in  it  as  the  Word  of  God. 

The  Bible  unfolds  truth  with  a  simplicity  and  a  per¬ 
fect  adaptation  to  the  needs  and  longings  of  the  human 
heart,  that  has  astonished  and  charmed  the  most  highly 
cultivated  minds,  while  it  enables  the  humble  and  uncul¬ 
tured  to  discern  the  way  of  salvation.  And  yet  these 
simply  stated  truths  lay  hold  upon  subjects  so  ele¬ 
vated,  so  far-reaching,  so  infinitely  beyond  the  power  of 
human  comprehension,  that  we  can  accept  them  only 
because  God  has  declared  them.  Thus  the  plan  of 
redemption  is  laid  open  to  us,  so  that  every  soul  may 
see  the  steps  he  is  to  take  in  repentance  toward  God, 
and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  order  to  be 
saved  in  God’s  appointed  way ;  yet  beneath  these 
truths,  so  easily  understood,  lie  mysteries  that  are  the 

1  2  Peter  3:16. 


WHAT  TO  DO  WITH  DOUBT 


”3 


hiding  of  His  glory, —  mysteries  that  overpower  the 
mind  in  its  research,  yet  inspire  the  sincere  seeker  for 
truth  with  reverence  and  faith.  The  more  he  searches 
the  Bible,  the  deeper  is  his  conviction  that  it  is  the 
word  of  the  living  God,  and  human  reason  bows 
before  the  majesty  of  divine  revelation. 

To  acknowledge  that  we  can  not  fully  comprehend 
the  great  truths  of  the  Bible  is  only  to  admit  that  the 
finite  mind  is  inadequate  to  grasp  the  infinite ;  that 
man,  with  his  limited,  human  knowledge,  can  not 
understand  the  purposes  of  Omniscience. 

Because  they  can  not  fathom  all  its  mysteries,  the 
skeptic  and  the  infidel  reject  God’s  Word;  and  not  all 
who  profess  to  believe  the  Bible  are  free  from  danger 
on  this  point.  The  apostle  says,  “  Take  heed,  brethren, 
lest  there  be  in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief, 
in  departing  from  the  living  God.”  1  It  is  right  to 
study  closely  the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  and  to  search 
into  “  the  deep  things  of  God,”  2  so  far  as  they  are 
revealed  in  Scripture.  While  “  the  secret  things  belong 
unto  the  Lord  our  God,”  “  those  things  which  ^re 
revealed  belong  unto  us.”  3  But  it  is  Satan’s  work  to 
pervert  the  investigative  powers  of  the  mind.  A  cer¬ 
tain  pride  is  mingled  with  the  consideration  of  Bible 
truth,  so  that  men  reel  impatient  and  defeated  if  they 
can  not.  explain  every  portion  of  Scripture  to  their  sat¬ 
isfaction.  It  is  too  humiliating  to  them  to  acknowledge 
that  they  do  not  understand  the  inspired  words.  They 
are  unwilling  to  wait  patiently  until  God  shall  see  fit 
to  reveal  the  truth  to  them.  They  feel  that  their 

'  Heb.  3:  12.  2  1  Cor.  2:  10. 


8 


3  Deut.  29 :  29. 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


1 14 

unaided  human  wisdom  is  sufficient  to  enable  them  to 
comprehend  the  Scripture,  and  failing  to  do  this,  they 
virtually  deny  its  authority.  It  is  true  that  many 
theories  and  doctrines  popularly  supposed  to  be  derived 
from  the  Bible  have  no  foundation  in  its  teaching, 
and  indeed  are  contrary  to  the  whole  tenor  of  inspira¬ 
tion,  These  things  have  been  a  cause  of  doubt  and 
perplexity  to  many  minds.  They  are  not,  however, 
chargeable  to  God’s  Word,  but  to  man’s  perversion 
of  it. 

If  it  were  possible  for  created  beings  to  attain  to  a 
full  understanding  of  God  and  His  works,  then,  having 
reached  this  point,  there  would  be  for  them  no  further 
discovery  of  truth,  no  growth  in  knowledge,  no  fur¬ 
ther  development  of  mind  or  heart.  God  would  no 
longer  be  supreme ;  and  man,  having  reached  the  limit 
of  knowledge  and  attainment,  would  cease  to  advance. 
Let  us  thank  God  that  it  is  not  so.  God  is  infinite ;  in 
Him  are  “  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowl¬ 
edge.”  1  And  to  all  eternity  men  may  be  ever  search¬ 
ing,  ever  learning,  and  yet  never  exhaust  the  treasures 
of  His  wisdom,  His  goodness,  and  His  power. 

God  intends  that  even  in  this  life  the  truths  of  His 
Word  shall  be  ever  unfolding  to  His  people.  There 
is  only  one  way  in  which  this  knowledge  can  be  ob¬ 
tained.  We  can  attain  to  an  understanding  of  God’s 
Word  only  through  the  illumination  of  that  Spirit  by 
which  the  Word  was  given.  “  The  things  of  God 
knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit  of  God ;  ”  “  for  the 
Spirit  searcheth  all  things,  vea,  the  deep  things  of 

1  Col.  2 :  3. 


WHAT  TO  DO  WITH  DOUBT  115 

God/’ 1  And  the  Saviour’s  promise  to  His  followers 
was,  “  When  He,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come,  He  will 
guide  you  into  all  truth.  .  .  .  For  He  shall  receive  of 
Mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you.”  2 

God  desires  man  to  exercise  his  reasoning  powers ; 
and  the  study  of  the  Bible  will  strengthen  and  elevate 
the  mind  as  no  other  study  can.  Yet  we  are  to  beware 
of  deifying  reason,  which  is  subject  to  the  weakness 
and  infirmity  of  humanity.  If  we  would  not  have  the 
Scriptures  clouded  to  our  understanding,  so  that  the 
plainest  truths  shall  not  be  comprehended,  we  must 
have  the  simplicity  and  faith  of  a  little  child,  ready  to 
learn,  and  beseeching  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  A 
sense  of  the  power  and  wisdom  of  God,  and  of  our 
inability  to  comprehend  His  greatness,  should  inspire 
us  with  humility,  and  we  should  open  His  Word,  as 
we  would  enter  His  presence,  with  holy  awe.  When 
we  come  to  the  Bible,  reason  must  acknowledge  an 
authority  superior  to  itself,  and  heart  and  intellect 
must  bow  to  the  great  I  AM. 

There  are  many  things  apparently  difficult  or  ob¬ 
scure,  which  God  will  make  plain  and  simple  to  those 
who  thus  seek  an  understanding  of  them.  But  with¬ 
out  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  shall  be  con¬ 
tinually  liable  to  wrest  the  Scriptures  or  to  misinterpret 
them.  There  is  much  reading  of  the  Bible  that  is 
without  profit,  and  in  many  cases  a  positive  injury. 
When  the  Word  of  God  is  opened  without  reverence 
and  without  prayer ;  when  the  thoughts  and  affections 
are  not  fixed  upon  God,  or  in  harmony  with  His  will, 

1  1  Cor.  2:  11,  10.  2  John  16:  13,  14. 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


1 16 

the  mind  is  clouded  with  doubt ;  and  in  the  very  study 
of  the  Bible,  skepticism  strengthens.  The  enemy  takes 
control  of  the  thoughts,  and  he  suggests  interpretations 
that  are  not  correct.  Whenever  men  are  not  in  word 
and  deed  seeking  to  be  in  harmony  with  God,  then, 
however  learned  they  may  be,  they  are  liable  to  err  in 
their  understanding  of  Scripture,  and  it  is  not  safe  to 
trust  to  their  explanations.  Those  who  look  to  the 
Scriptures  to  find  discrepancies,  have  not  spiritual  in¬ 
sight.  With  distorted  vision  they  will  see  many  causes 
for  doubt  and  unbelief  in  things  that  are  really  plain 
and  simple. 

Disguise  it  as  they  may,  the  real  cause  of  doubt 
and  skepticism,  in  most  cases,  is  the  love  of  sin.  The 
teachings  and  restrictions  of  God’s  Word  are  not  wel¬ 
come  to  the  proud,  sin-loving  heart,  and  those  who 
are  unwilling  to  obey  its  requirements  are  ready  to 
doubt  its  authority.  In  order  to  arrive  at  truth,  we 
must  have  a  sincere  desire  to  know  the  truth,  and  a 
willingness  of  heart  to  obey  it.  And  all  who  come  in 
this  spirit  to  the  study  of  the  Bible,  will  find  abundant 
evidence  that  it  is  God’s  Word,  and  they  may  gain  an 
understanding  of  its  truths  that  will  make  them  wise 
unto  salvation. 

Christ  has  said,  “  If  any  man  willeth  to  do  His 
will,  he  shall  know  of  the  teaching.” 1  Instead  of 
questioning  and  caviling  concerning  that  which  you 
do  not  understand,  give  heed  to  the  light  that  already 
shines  upon  you,  and  you  will  receive  greater  light. 
By  the  grace  of  Christ,  perform  every  duty  that  has 

1  John  7:17,  R.  V. 


WHAT  TO  DO  WITH  DOUBT  I IJ 


been  made  plain  to  your  understanding,  and  you  will 
be  enabled  to  understand  and  perform  those  of  which 
you  are  now  in  doubt. 

There  is  an  evidence  that  is  open  to  all, —  the  most 
highly  educated,  and  the  most  illiterate, —  the  evidence 
of  experience.  God  invites  us  to  prove  for  ourselves 
the  reality  of  His  Word,  the  truth  of  His  promises. 
He  bids  us  “  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good.”  1 
Instead  of  depending  upon  the  word  of  another,  we 
are  to  taste  for  ourselves.  He  declares,  “Ask,  and  ye 
shall  receive.”  2  His  promises  will  be  fulfilled.  They 
have  never  failed ;  they  never  can  fail.  And  as  we 
draw  near  to  Jesus,  and  rejoice  in  the  fulness  of  His 
love,  our  doubt  and  darkness  will  disappear  in  the  light 
of  His  presence. 

The  apostle  Paul  says  that  God  “  hath  delivered  us 
from  the  power  of  darkness,  and  hath  translated  us 
into  the  kingdom  of  His  dear  Son.”  3  And  every  one 
who  has  passed  from  death  unto  life  is  able  to  “  set 
to  his  seal  that  God  is  true.”  4  He  can  testify,  “  I 
needed  help,  and  I  found  it  in  Jesus.  Every  want  was 
supplied,  the  hunger  of  my  soul  was  satisfied ;  and 
now  the  Bible  is  to  me  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Do  you  ask  why  I  believe  in  Jesus? — because  He  is 
to  me  a  divine  Saviour.  Why  do  I  believe  the  Bible? 
—  Because  I  have  found  it  to  be  the  voice  of  God  to 
my  soul.”  We  may  have  the  witness  in  ourselves  that 
the  Bible  is  true,  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God.  We 
know  that  we  are  not  following  cunningly  devised 
fables. 


1  Ps.  34:  8. 

8  Col.  1 :  13. 


2  John  16: 24. 
4  John  3  :  33. 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


1 1 8 

Peter  exhorts  his  brethren  to  “  grow  in  grace,  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.”  1  When  the  people  of  God  are  growing  in 
grace,  they  will  be  constantly  obtaining  a  clearer  un¬ 
derstanding  of  His  Word.  They  will  discern  new  light 
and  beauty  in  its  sacred  truths.  This  has  been  true  in 
the  history  of  the  church  in  all  ages,  and  thus  it  will 
continue  to  the  end.  “  The  path  of  the  righteous  is  as 
the  light  of  dawn,  that  shineth  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day.”  2 

By  faith  we  may  look  to  the  hereafter,  and  grasp 
the  pledge  of  God  for  a  growth  of  intellect,  the  human 
faculties  uniting  with  the  divine,  and  every  power  of 
the  soul  being  brought  into  direct  contact  with  the 
Source  of  light.  We  may  rejoice  that  all  which  has 
perplexed  us  in  the  providences  of  God  will  then  be 
made  plain  ;  things  hard  to  be  understood  will  then 
find  an  explanation ;  and  where  our  finite  minds  dis¬ 
covered  only  confusion  and  broken  purposes,  we  shall 
see  the  most  perfect  and  beautiful  harmony.  “  Now 
we  see  through  a  glass,  darkly ;  but  then  face  to  face : 
now  I  know  in  part ;  but  then  shall  I  know  even  as 
also  I  am  known.”  3 

2  Prov.  4:  18,  R.  V.  (margin). 

3  1  Cor.  13 :  12. 


1  2  Peter  3:18. 


Rejoicing  In  The  Lord 

THE  children  of  God  are  called  to  be  representa¬ 
tives  of  Christ,  showing  forth  the  goodness  and 
mercy  of  the  Lord.  As  Jesus  has  revealed  to  us  the 
true  character  of  the  Father,  so  we  are  to  reveal  Christ 
to  a  world  that  does  not  know  His  tender,  pitying 
love.  “As  Thou  hast  sent  Me  into  the  world,”  said 
Jesus,  “  even  so  have  I  also  sent  them  into  the  world.” 
“  I  in  them,  and  Thou  in  Me,  .  .  .  that  the  world  may 
know  that  Thou  hast  sent  Me.”  1  The  apostle  Paul 
says  to  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  “  Ye  are  manifestly  de¬ 
clared  to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ,”  “  known  and  read  of 
all  men.”  2  In  every  one  of  His  children,  Jesus  sends 
a  letter  to  the  world.  If  you  are  Christ’s  follower, 
He  sends  in  you  a  letter  to  the  family,  the  village,  the 
street,  where  you  live.  Jesus,  dwelling  in  you,  desires 
to  speak  to  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  not  acquainted 
with  Him.  Perhaps  they  do  not  read  the  Bible,  or  do 
not  hear  the  voice  that  speaks  to  them  in  its  pages ; 
they  do  not  see  the  love  of  God  through  His  works. 
But  if  you  are  a  true  representative  of  Jesus,  it  may’ 
be  that  through  you  they  will  be  led  to  understand 
something  of  His  goodness,  and  be  won  to  love  and 
serve  Him. 

Christians  are  set  as  light-bearers  on  the  way  to 
heaven.  They  are  to  reflect  to  the  world  the  light 
shining  upon  them  from  Christ.  Their  life  and  char¬ 
acter  should  be  such  that  through  them  others  will 

1  John  17:  18,  23.  2  2  Cor.  3:3,  2. 


120 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


get  a  right  conception  of  Christ  and 
of  His  service. 

If  we  do  represent  Christ,  we 
shall  make  His  service  appear  attrac¬ 
tive,  as  it  really  is.  Christians  who 
gather  up  gloom,  and  sadness  to  their 
souls,  and  murmur  and  complain,  are 
giving  to  others  a  false  representation 
of  God  and  the  Christian  life.  They  give 
the  impression  that  God  is  not  pleased  to 
have  His  children  happy,  and  in  this  they 
bear  false  witness  against  our  heavenly 
Father. 

Satan  is  exultant  when  he  can  lead 
the  children  of  God  into  unbelief  and 
despondency.  He  delights  to  see  us  mis¬ 
trusting  God,  doubting  His  willingness 
and  power  to  save  us.  He  loves  to  have 
us  feel  that  the  Lord  will  do  us  harm  by 
His  providences.  It  is  the  work  of  Satan 
to  represent  the  Lord  as  lacking  in  com¬ 
passion  and  pity.  He  misstates  the  truth  in  regard  to 
Him.  He  fills  the  imagination  with  false  ideas 
concerning  God ;  and  instead  of  dwelling  upon  the 
truth  in  regard  to  our  heavenly  Father,  we  too  often 
fix  our  minds  upon  the  misrepresentations  of  Satan, 
and  dishonor  God  by  distrusting  Him  and  mur¬ 
muring  against  Him.  Satan  ever  seeks  to  make  the 
religious  life  one  of  gloom.  He  desires  it  to  appear 
toilsome  and  difficult ;  and  when  the  Christian  presents 


Christians  are  set  as  light 
bearers  on  the  way  to 
heaven 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD 


I  2  I 


in  his  own  life  this  view  of  religion,  he  is,  through 
his  unbelief,  seconding  the  falsehood  of  Satan. 

Many,  walking  along  the  path  of  life,  dwell  upon 
their  mistakes  and  failures  and  disappointments,  and 
their  hearts  are  filled  with  grief  and  discouragement. 
While  I  was  in  Europe,  a  sister  who  had  been  doing 
this,  and  who  was  in  deep  distress,  wrote 
to  me,  asking  for  some  word  of  en¬ 
couragement.  The  night  after  I  had 
read  her  letter,  I  dreamed  that  I 
was  in  a  garden,  and  one  who 
seemed  to  be  the  owner  of  the  gar¬ 
den  was  conducting  me  through  its 
paths.  I  was  gathering  the  flowers 
and  enjoying  their  fragrance,  when 
this  sister,  who  had  been  walking 
by  my  side,  called  my  attention 
to  some  unsightly  briers  that  were 
impeding  her  way.  There  she  was, 
mourning  and  grieving.  She  was  not 
walking  in  the  pathway,  following  the 
guide,  but  was  walking  among  the  briers  and  thorns. 
“  O,”  she  mourned,  “  is  it  not  a  pity  that  this  beautiful 
garden  is  spoiled  with  thorns  ?  ”  Then  the  guide  said, 
“  Let  the  thorns  alone,  for  they  will  only  wound  you. 
Gather  the  roses,  the  lilies,  and  the  pinks.” 

Have  there  not  been  some  bright  spots  in  your 
experience?  Have  you  not  had  some  precious  sea¬ 
sons  when  your  heart  throbbed  with  joy  in  response 
to  the  Spirit  of  God  ?  When  you  look  back  into  the 


122 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


chapters  of  your  life-experience,  do  you  not  find  some 
pleasant  pages?  Are  not  God’s  promises,  like  the 
fragrant  flowers,  growing  beside  your  path  on  every 
hand?  Will  you  not  let  their  beauty  and  sweetness 
fill  your  heart  with  joy? 

The  briers  and  thorns  will  only  wound  and  grieve 
you  ;  and  if  you  gather  only  these  things,  and  present 
them  to  others,  are  you  not,  besides  slighting  the 
goodness  of  God  yourself,  preventing  those  around  you 
from  walking  in  the  path  of  life? 

It  is  not  wise  to  gather  together  all  the  unpleasant 
recollections  of  a  past  life, —  its  iniquities  and  disap¬ 
pointments, —  to  talk  over  them  and  mourn  over  them 
until  we  are  overwhelmed  with  discouragement.  A 

discouraged  soul  is  filled  with  dark¬ 
ness,  shutting  out  the  light  of  God 
from  his  own  soul,  and  casting  a 
shadow  upon  the  pathway  of  others. 

Thank  God  for  the  bright  pic¬ 
tures  which  He  has  presented  to  us. 
Let  us  group  together  the  blessed 
assurances  df  His  love,  that  we  may 
look  upon  them  continually. .  The  Son 
of  God  leaving  His  Father’s  throne, 
clothing  His  divinity  with  humanity, 
that  He  might  rescue  man  from  the 
power  of  Satan ;  His  triumph  in  our 
behalf,  opening  heaven  to  men,  reveal¬ 
ing  to  human  vision  the  presence  cham¬ 
ber  where  the  Deity  unveils  His  glory ; 

O,  is  it  not  a  pity  that  this 
beautiful  garden  is  spoiled 
with  thorns? 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD 


123 


fallen  race  uplifted  from  the  pit  of 
ruin  into  which  sin  had  plunged 
it,  and  brought  again  into  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  infinite  God,  and 
having  endured  the  divine  test 
through  faith  in  our  Redeemer, 
clothed  in  the  righteousness  of 
hrist,  and  exalted  to  His  throne  — 
:  are  the  pictures  which  God  would 
Lis  contemplate. 

hen  we  seem  to  doubt  God’s  love, 
istrust  His  promises,  we  dishonor  Him 
ana  grieve  His  Holy  Spirit.  How  would 


a  mother  feel  if  her  children  were  constantly  com¬ 
plaining  of  her,  just  as  though  she  did  not  mean  them 
well,  when  her  whole  life’s  efifort  had 
been  to  forward  their  interests  and  to  gh 
them  comfort?  Suppose  they  should 
doubt  her  love ;  it  would  break  her 
heart.  How  would  any  parent  feel 
to  be  thus  treated  by  his  children?  Anc 
how  can  our  heavenly  Father  regard  u: 
when  we  distrust  His  love,  which  has 
led  Him  to  give  His  only  begotten  Son 
that  we  might  have  life?  The  apostle 
writes,  “  He  that  spared  not  His  own 
Son,  but  delivered  Him  up  for  us  all 
how  shall  He  not  with  Him  also  free' 
give  us  all  things?  ”  1  And  yet  how  mai 
by  their  actions,  if  not  in  word,  are  sayi 


1  Rom.  8:32. 


will  only  wound 
and  grieve  you 


124 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


“  The  Lord  does  not  mean  this  for  me.  Perhaps  He 
loves  others,  but  He  does  not  love  me.” 

All  this  is  harming  your  own  soul ;  for  every  word 
of  doubt  you  utter  is  inviting  Satan’s  temptations ;  it 
is  strengthening  in  you  the  tendency  to  doubt,  and  it 
is  grieving  from  you  the  ministering  angels.  When 
Satan  tempts  you,  breathe  not  a  word  of  doubt  or 
darkness.  If  you  choose  to  open  the  door  to. his  sug¬ 
gestions,  your  mind  will  be  filled  with  distrust  and 
rebellious  questioning.  If  you  talk  out  your  feelings, 
every  doubt  you  express  not  only  reacts  upon  your¬ 
self,  but  it  is  a  seed  that  will  germinate  and  bear  fruit 
in  the  life  of  others,  and  it  may  be  impossible  to  coun¬ 
teract  the  influence  of  your  words.  You  yourself  may 
be  able  to  recover  from  the  season  of  temptation  and 
from  the  snare  of  Satan,  but  others,  who  have  been 
swayed  by  your  influence,  may  not  be  able  to  escape 
from  the  unbelief  you  have  suggested.  How  impor¬ 
tant  that  we  speak  only  those  things  that  will  give 
spiritual  strength  and  life ! 

Angels  are  listening  to  hear  what  kind  of  report 
you  are  bearing  to  the  world  about  your  heavenly 
Master.  Let  your  conversation  be  of  Him  who  liveth 
to  make  intercession  for  you  before  the  Father.  When 
you  take  the  hand  of  a  friend,  let  praise  to  God  be  on 
your  lips  and  in  your  heart.  This  will  attract  his 
thoughts  to  Jesus. 

All  have  trials ;  griefs  hard  to  bear,  temptations 
hard  to  resist.  Do  not  tell  your  troubles  to  your  fel¬ 
low  mortals,  but  carry  everything  to  God  in  prayer. 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD 


I25 


Make  it  a  rule  never  to  utter  one  word  of  doubt  or 
discouragement.  You  can  do  much  to  brighten  the 
life  of  others  and  strengthen  their  efforts,  by  words  of 
hope  and  holy  cheer. 

There  is  many  a  brave  soul  sorely  pressed  by  temp¬ 
tation,  almost  ready  to  faint  in  the  conflict  with  self 
and  with  the  powers  of  evil.  Do  not  discourage  such 
a  one  in  his  hard  struggle.  Cheer  him  with  brave, 
hopeful  words  that  shall  urge  him  on  his  way.  Thus 
the  light  of  Christ  may  shine  from  you.  “  None  of 
us  liveth  to  himself.”  1  By  our  unconscious  influence 
others  may  be  encouraged  and  strengthened,  or  they 
may  be  discouraged,  and  repelled  from  Christ  and  the 
truth. 

There  are  many  who  have  an  erroneous  idea  of 
the  life  and  character  of  Christ.  They  think  that  He 
was  devoid  of  warmth  and  sunniness,  that  He  was 
stern,  severe,  and  joyless.  In  many  cases  the  whole 
religious  experience  is  colored  by  these  gloomy  views. 

It  is  often  said  that  Jesus  wept,  but  that  He  was 
never  known  to  smile.  Our  Saviour  was  indeed  a 
man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief,  for  He 
opened  His  heart  to  all  the  woes  of  men.  But  though 
His.  life  was  self-denying  and  shadowed  with  pain  and 
care,  His  spirit  was  not  crushed.  His  countenance 
did  not  wear  an  expression  of  grief  and  repining,  but 
ever  one  of  peaceful  serenity.  His  heart  was  a  well- 
spring  of  life ;  and  wherever  He  went,  He  carried  rest 
and  peace,  joy  and  gladness. 

Our  Saviour  was  deeply  serious  and  intensely  in 

1  Rom.  14:  7. 


126 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


earnest,  but  never  gloomy  or  morose.  The  life  of 
those  who  imitate  Him  will  be  full  of  earnest  pur¬ 
pose  ;  they  will  have  a  deep  sense  of  personal  respon¬ 
sibility.  Levity  will  be  repressed ;  there  will  be  no 
boisterous  merriment,  no  rude  jesting;  but  the  relig¬ 
ion  of  Jesus  gives  peace  like  a  river.  It  does  not 
quench  the  light  of  joy;  it  does  not  restrain  cheer¬ 
fulness,  nor  cloud  the  sunny,  smiling  face.'  Christ 
came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister ;  and 
when  His  love  reigns  in  the  heart,  we  shall  follow  His 
example. 

If  we  keep  uppermost  in  our  minds  the  unkind 
and  unjust  acts  of  others,  we  shall  find  it  impossible 
to  love  them  as  Christ  has  loved  us ;  but  if  our  thoughts 
dwell  upon  the  wondrous  love  and  pity  of  Christ  for 
us,  the  same  spirit  will  flow  out  to  others.  We  should 
love  and  respect  one  another,  notwithstanding  the  faults 
and  imperfections  that  we  can  not  help  seeing.  Hu¬ 
mility  and  self-distrust  should  be  cultivated,  and  a 
patient  tenderness  with  the  faults  of  others.  This  will 
kill  out  all  narrowing  selfishness,  and  make  us  large- 
hearted  and  generous. 

The  Psalmist  says,  ‘‘Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  do 
good ;  so  shalt  thou  dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily  thou 
shalt  be  fed.”1  “Trust  in  the  Lord.”  Each  day  has 
its  burdens,  its  cares  and  perplexities ;  and  when  we 
meet,  how  ready  we  are  to  talk  of  our  difficulties  and 
trials.  So  many  borrowed  troubles  intrude,  so  many 
fears  are  indulged,  such  a  weight  of  anxiety  is  ex¬ 
pressed,  that  one  might  suppose  we  had  no  pitying, 

1  Ps„  37 :  3. 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD  1 27 

loving  Saviour,  ready  to  hear  all  our  requests,  and  to 
be  to  us  a  present  help  in  every  time  of  need. 

Some  are  always  fearing,  and  borrowing  trouble. 
Every  day  they  are  surrounded  with  the  tokens  of 
God's  love;  every  day  they  are  enjoying  the  bounties 
of  His  providence ;  but  they  overlook  these  present 
blessings.  Their  minds  are  continually  dwelling  upon 
something  disagreeable,  which  they  fear  may  come ; 
or  some  difficulty  may  really  exist,  which,  though  small, 
blinds  their  eyes  to  the  many  things  that  demand 
gratitude.  The  difficulties  they  encounter,  instead  of 
driving  them  to  God,  the  only  source  of  their  help, 
separate  them  from  Him,  because  they  awaken  unrest 
and  repining. 

Do  we  well  to  be  thus  unbelieving?  Why  should 
we  be  ungrateful  and  distrustful?  Jesus  is  our  friend ; 
all  Heaven  is  interested  in  our  welfare.  We  should 
not  allow  the  perplexities  and  worries  of  every-day  life 
to  fret  the  mind  and  cloud  the  brow.  If  we  do,  we 
shall  always  have  something  to  vex  and  annoy.  We 
should  not  indulge  a  solicitude  that  only  frets  and 
wears  us,  but  does  not  help  us  to  bear  trials. 

You  may  be  perplexed  in  business ;  your  prospects 
may  grow  darker  and  darker,  and  you  may  be  threat¬ 
ened  with  loss ;  but  do  not  become  discouraged ;  cast 
your  care  upon  God,  and  remain  calm  and  cheerful. 
Pray  for  wisdom  to  manage  your  affairs  with  discre¬ 
tion,  and  thus  prevent  loss  and  disaster.  Do  all  you 
can  on  your  part  to  bring  about  favorable  results. 
Jesus  has  promised  His  aid,  but  not  apart  from  our 


128 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


effort.  When,  relying  upon  our  Helper,  you  have 
done  all  you  can,  accept  the  result  cheerfully. 

It  is  not  the  will  of  God  that  His  people  should  be 
weighed  down  with  care.  But  our  Lord  does  not 
deceive  us.  He  does  not  say  to  us,  “  Do  not  fear ; 
there  are  no  dangers  in  your  path.”  He  knows  there 
are  trials  and  dangers,  and  He  deals  with  us  plainly. 
He  does  not  propose  to  take  His  people  out  of  a  world 
of  sin  and  evil,  but  He  points  them  to  a  never-failing 
refuge.  His  prayer  for  His  disciples  was,  “  I  pray 
not  that  Thou  shouldest  take  them  out  of  the  world, 
but  that  Thou  shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil.”  “  In 
the  world,”  He  says,  “  ye  shall  have  tribulation :  but 
be  of  good  cheer ;  I  have  overcome  the  world.”  1 

In  His  sermon  on  the  mount,  Christ  taught  His 
disciples  precious  lessons  in  regard  to  the  necessity  of 
trusting  in  God.  These  lessons  were  designed  to  en¬ 
courage  the  children  of  God  through  all  ages,  and 
they  have  come  down  to  our  time  full  of  instruction 
and  comfort.  The  Saviour  pointed  His  followers  to 
the  birds  of  the  air  as  they  warbled  their  carols 
of  praise,  unencumbered  with  thoughts  of  care,  for 
“  they  sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap.”  And  yet  the 
great  Father  provides  for  their  needs.  The  Saviour 
asks,  “Are  ye  not  much  better  than  they  ?  ”  2  The 
great  Provider  for  man  and  beast  opens  His  hand  and 
supplies  all  His  creatures.  The  birds  of  the  air  are 
not  beneath  His  notice.  He  does  not  drop  the  food 
into  their  bills,  but  He  makes  provision  for  their  needs. 
They  must  gather  the  grains  He  has  scattered  for 

1  John  17:15;  16:33.  2  Matt.  6:26. 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD 


129 


They  must  feed  their  young 


them.  They  must  prepare  the  material  for  their  little 
nests.  They  must  feed  their  young.  They  go  forth 
singing  to  their  labor,  for  “  your  heavenly  Father 
feedeth  them.”  And  “are  ye  not  much  better  than 
they  ?  ”  Are  not  you,  as  intelligent,  spiritual  wor¬ 
shipers,  of  more  value  than  the 
birds  of  the  air?  Will  not  the 
Author  of  our  being,  the  Pre¬ 
server  of  our  life,  the  One 
who  formed  us  in  Plis  own 
divine  image,  provide  for 
our  necessities  if  we  but  > 
trust  in  Him? 

Christ  pointed  His  dis¬ 
ciples  to  the  flowers  of  the 
field,  growing  in  rich  profusion,  and  glowing  in  the 
simple  beauty  which  the  heavenly  Father  had  given 
them,  as  an  expression  of  His  love  to  man.  He  said, 
“  Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they  grow.”  The 
beauty  and  simplicity  of  these  natural  flowers  far  out¬ 
rival  the  splendor  of  Solomon.  The  most  gorgeous 
attire  produced  by  the  skill  of  art  can  not  bear  com¬ 
parison  with  the  natural  grace  and  radiant  beauty  of 
the  flowers  of  God’s  creation.  Jesus  asks,  “  If  God 
so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is,  and 
to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  He  not  much 
more  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith?”1  If  God,  the 
divine  artist,  gives  to  the  simple  flowers  that  perish 
in  a  day  their  delicate  and  varied  colors,  how  much 
greater  care  will  He  have  for  those  who  are  created 

Matt.  6:  28,  30.  • 


9 


130 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


in  His  own  image  ?  This  lesson  of  Christ’s  is  a  rebuke 
to  the  anxious  thought,  the  perplexity  and  doubt,  of 
the  faithless  heart. 

The  Lord  would  have  all  His  sons  and  daughters 
happy,  peaceful,  and  obedient.  Jesus  says,  “  My 
peace  I  give  unto  you :  not  as  the  world  giveth,  give 
I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither 
let  it  be  afraid.”  “  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto 
you,  that  My  joy  might  remain  in  you,  and  that  your 
joy  might  be  full.”  1 

Happiness  that  is  sought  from  selfish  motives,  out¬ 
side  of  the  path  of  duty,  is  ill-balanced,  fitful,  and 
transitory ;  it  passes  away,  and  the  soul  is  filled  with 
loneliness  and  sorrow;  but  there  is  joy  and  satisfaction 
in  the  service  of  God ;  the  Christian  is  not  left  to  walk 
in  uncertain  paths  ;  he  is  not  left  to  vain  regrets  and 
disappointments.  If  we  do  not  have  the  pleasures  of 
this  life,  we  may  still  be  joyful  in  looking  to  the  life 
beyond. 

But  even  here  Christians  may  have  the  joy  of  com¬ 
munion  with  Christ ;  they  may  have  the  light  of  His 
love,  the  perpetual  comfort  of  His  presence.  Every 
step  in  life  may  bring  us  closer  to  Jesus,  may  give  us 
a  deeper  experience  of  His  love,  and  may  bring  us  one 
step  nearer  to  the  blessed  home  of  peace.  Then  let  us 
not  cast  away  our  confidence,  but  have  firm  assurance, 
firmer  than  ever  before.  “  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord 
helped  us,”  2  and  He  will  help  us  to  the  end.  Let  us 
look  to  the  monumental  pillars,  reminders  of  what  the 
Lord  has  done  to  comfort  us  and  to  save  us  from  the 

1  John  14: 27;  15:11. 


2  1  Sam.  7:  12. 


/ 


REJOICING  IN  THE  LORD  13 1 

hand  of  the  destroyer.  Let  us  keep  fresh  in  our  mem¬ 
ory  all  the  tender  mercies  that  God  has  shown  us,— - 
the  tears  He  has  wiped  away,  the  pains  He  has 
soothed,  the  anxieties  removed,  the  fears  dispelled, 
the  wants  supplied,  the  blessings  bestowed, —  thus 
strengthening  ourselves  for  all  that  is  before  us  through 
the  remainder  of  our  pilgrimage. 

We  can  not  but  look  forward  to  new  perplexities 
in  the  coming  conflict,  but  we  may  look  on  what  is  past 
as  well  as  on  what  is  to  come,  and  say,  “  Hitherto  hath 
the  Lord  helped  us.”  “As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy 
strength  be.”  1  The  trial  will  not  exceed  the  strength 
that  shall  be  given  us  to  bear  it.  Then  let  us  take  up 
our  work  just  where  we  find  it,  believing  that  what¬ 
ever  may  come,  strength  proportionate  to  the  trial 
.will  be  given. 

And  by  and  by  the  gates  of  heaven  will  be  thrown 
open  to  admit  God’s  children,  and  from  the  lips  of 
the  King  of  glory  the  benediction  will  fall  on  their 
ears  like  richest  music,  “  Come,  ye  blessed  of  My 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world.”  2 

Then  the  redeemed  will  be  welcomed  to  the  home 
that  Jesus  is  preparing  for  them.  There  their  com¬ 
panions  will  not  be  the  vile  of  earth,  liars,  idolaters, 
the  impure,  and  unbelieving ;  but  they  will  associate 
with  those  who  have  overcome  Satan,  and  through 
divine  grace  have  formed  perfect  characters.  Every 
sinful  tendency,  every  imperfection,  that  afflicts  them 
here,  has  been  removed  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and 

1  Deut.  33:25.  2  Matt.  25:34. 


l32 


STEPS  TO  CHRIST 


the  excellence  and  brightness  of  His  glory,  far  exceed¬ 
ing  the  brightness  of  the  sun,  is  imparted  to  them.  And 
the  moral  beauty,  the  perfection  of  His  character, 
shines  through  them,  in  worth  far  exceeding  this  out¬ 
ward  splendor.  They  are  without  fault  before  the 
great  white  throne,  sharing  the  dignity  and  the  privi¬ 
leges  of  the  angels. 

In  view  of  the  glorious  inheritance  that  may  be 
his,  “  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
soul  ?  ”  1  He  may  be  poor,  yet  he  possesses  in  himself 
a  wealth  and  dignity  that  the  world  could  never  bestow. 
The  soul  redeemed  and  cleansed  from  sin,  with  all  its 
noble  powers  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  is  of 
surpassing  worth;  and  there  is  joy  in  heaven  in  the 
presence  of  God  and  the  holy  angels  over  one  soul 
redeemed,  a  joy  that  is  expressed  in  songs  of  holy 
triumph. 

1  Matt.  16:  26. 


There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one 
soul  redeemed 


INDEXES 


Scriptural  Index 


Genesis 

3 :  12,  13  ...............  45 

3  •  ^7  . . ..........  9 

Exodus 


33  :  18,  19  . . . 10 

34:6,  7  . .  11 

Deuteronomy 

12:7 . 108 

29 :  29  . . . . . .  1 13 

33  :  25  . 131 

I  Samuel 

7:  12  . . ...  130 

12  :  19 . 44 

16:  7  •  . .  39 

Job 

11 :  7,  8 . no 

14 :  4 . 20 

Psalms 

16 :  8 .  74 

27:2,  R.  V . in 

32  :  1,  2  . , .  .  28 

33:5  .  92 

34:  8  . 117 

34 :  18  . .  43 

37:  3  . 126 

37:7 . 75 

40 :  8  . .  66 


50 . 23  ......  ...o.  ........  109 


51  :  1-14  . .  29 

51 :  10  . .  40 

72  :  6  . 72 

84:  11  .  72 

97  :  2,  R.  V . in 

107 :  8 . ' . 108 

107:43  .  92 

1 19:  97  .  69 

139 :  23,  24  .....  . .  39 

145  :  15,  16  .....  . .  9 

147  :  3  •  •  . . I05 

Proverbs 

4 :  18,  R.  V . 118 

5:22  .  39 

28 :  13  .  42 

Isaiah 

1:5-6 .  47 

1 :  16,  17 .  44 

r :  18  . 48,  53 

30:  15  .  75 

44:3  .  99 

44 :  22  .  58 

49:  15  . 60 

5i  :  3  . 109 

53:  5  .  14 

53  :  12  .  50 

55  :  i  .  53 

55:7  .  58 

60 :  19  .  72 

61  :  3  . 7i 


SCRIPTURAL  INDEX 


135 


Jeremiah 


13  :  23 . 36 

29:  13  . 47 

31  ”3  . 59 

Ezekiel 

18:32  . 58 

33:  IS  •  ••  • . •  44 

36:26  . . 53 

Daniel 

10:8 . 33 

Hosea 

14 :  5  . . . ••••••  72 

14 :  5,  7  . . 72 

Jonah 

4:2  . . n 

Micah 

7«'i8  . . n 

Matthew 

6:  12  . 101 

6:  26 . 128 

6 :  28,  30 . 129 

7U  . 99,  101 

9:6 .  54 

10 :  20 . 68 

11 :  27  . 12 

1 1 :  28  .  30 

11:28,29 .  75 

1 1 :  29  .  76 

16 :  26 . 132 

20 :  28 .  82 

25  :  34 . 131 

27  :  4 .  27 

27 :  46  .  14 

28 :  20 .  79 


Mark 

4:28  .  72 

11 :  24 . .  55,  100 


Luke 


4 

:  18  . . 

.......  12 

7 

:  43  . 

.  41 

12 

:  27  . 

.  72 

14: 

:  33  . 

.  48 

15 

:  18-20  . 

.  59 

18: 

:  13  . 

35 

John 

1  : 

:  3  . 

.  93 

1 : 

■4 . 

.  21 

1  : 

9 . 

.  28 

1  : 

:  18  . 

.  12 

1  : 

:  29  . 

I : 

:47,48  . 

.  96 

1  : 

51  . 

.  23 

3: 

3  . 

....  21,  71 

3: 

7 . 

.  21 

3: 

8 . 

...!..  61 

3: 

16 . 

.  15 

3: 

33  . 

. 117 

5: 

19 . 

.  80 

5: 

39 . 

.  92 

6: 

33  . 

.  72 

6: 

53,63  . 

.  93 

7: 

17,  R-  V . 

. 116 

10 : 

17 . 

.  15 

12 : 

32  . 

.  30 

14: 

6  . 

.  24 

14: 

8,9 . 

......  12 

14: 

10 . 

.  80 

14: 

17  . 

.  80 

14: 

27  . . 

. 130 

136 


SCRIPTURAL  INDEX 


John 


1  Corinthians 


15:4,5 . 73 

15  :  10 .  66 

15  :  11  . 130 

15  :  16 . 105 

16:7 . 80 

16:  13,  14  . . . n5 

16 :  14 . 96 

16 :  23,  24 .  79 

16:  24 . 1 17 

16 :  26,  27  . 105 

16 :  27  .  69 

16:  33  . 128 

17:  15  . 128 

17:  18,  23  . 119 

17  :  20  . 80 

20:31  . 54 


Acts 


2  :  38 .  26 

3:19  . .  26 

4 :  12  .  21 

4:i3  .  80 

5:3i  .  30 

26 :  10,  11  . 46 


Romans 


7:9 .  34 

7:16,  12,  14 . .  21 

7  :  24 . 22 

8 :  1 . . . 56,  69 

8:7 .  20 

8:32  .  99,  123 

8:34 .  79 

11  :  33  . in 

12  :  12 . 102 

14:  7  . 125 


2:9 . . . . .  91 

2  :  10  . 113 

2  :  11,  10 . 115 

2  :  14 .  21 

7  :  24 . 86 

13  :  12  . 118 


2  Corinthians 


3:  3,  2  . . . . 1 19 

3:18 .  77 

5:  17 .  61 

5:  19 .  15,  40 

6:2  . 39 

7:  11  .  44 

Galatians 

2  :  20  .  . .  .  • . .  68,  76 

5:22,  23  .  63 


1 :  7 
2 :  1 


2 

4 


8  . 
15 


Ephesians 


. .  60 

..  47 
..  66 
71,  80 


2:  13 
3:6  . 
4:6  . 


Philippians 


80 

34 

102 


1 :  13 

2:3 

2 :  6 
3  :  23 
4:2 


Colossians 

. . 11 7 

. 19,  1 14 

. 56,  74 

.  87 

. 102 


SCRIPTURAL  INDEX 


137 


1  Timothy 

1 :  15  . 4L  46 

3:  16  . . . 14 


2  Timothy 


2  :  26 . 47 

Hebrews 

2:11  . 16 

3:7,8 .  39 

3:  12  . 11 3 

4:  15  .  42 

7:2 s  . 107 

10  :  16 .  65 

10:38 .  74 

11:6  . 100 

12  :  14 .  40 


James 


1  Peter 

1  :  18,  19 . 56 

2:2  .  71 

2:21  .  67 

3  :  3,  4 .  63 

4:7 . 102 

2  Peter 

3  :  16  . . 1 12 

3  :  18 . 118 


1  John 

i:9  .  46 

2:1  .  69 

2  :  3-6  .  67 

2:4  .  65 

3:1  . 17 

3  :  5,  6,  7 .  66 

4 :  19,  R.  V .  64 

5:3  . 65 


1:17 . . 

.  23 

2 :  17 . 

. .  66 

2 :  19 . 

. .  68 

5:11  ......... 

. 105 

5:  16 . 

.  42 

5:i7  . . . 

. 78,  92 

Jude 

20,  21  . 102 

Revelation 

22 :  12  .  93 

22  :  17 .  32 


General  Index 


A  CCEPTANCE,  of  man  with 
God,  through  faith,  56-60 

Activity,  necessary  to  spiritual 
life,  81-88;  manifested  by 
Christ,  82,  86 

Adam,  insincere  confession  of, 
at  fall,  45,  46 

Agencies,  of  heaven,  to  reclaim 
the  lost,  24 

Angels,  ministry  of,  to  man, 
22,  23,  81 

gAPTISM,  steps  preparatory 
to,  53-60 

Bible,  see  Scriptures;  Word  of 
God 

Birth,  spiritual,  compared  to 
natural,  71.  See  also  Con¬ 
version 

Blessings  through  penitence 
and  confession,  46,  57; 

through  unselfish  ministry, 
81-88 

Business,  see  Principles 

^ARES,  every-day,  to  be  cast 
upon  God,  127,  128 

Character,  of  Christian,  re¬ 
vealed  in  life,  62,  63 ;  char¬ 
acter-building,  71-80,  81-88; 

of  God,  revelation  of :  in 
nature,  9,  10 ;  in  the  Word, 
10-12;  through  Christ,  11-18; 

of  Christ :  reflected  by  fol¬ 
lowers,  63,  64;  erroneous 


teachings  regarding,  125,  126 
Choice,  power  of,  given  to  man, 
76,  77 ;  man’s,  effort  of  Satan 
to  influence,  77 
Christ,  the  revelation  of  God’s 
character,  11-18;  as  healer, 
12;  as  teacher,  13;  sacrifice 
of,  14-16;  miracles  of,  written 
to  inspire  faith,  54;  example 
of  obedience  of,  66-68 ;  com¬ 
pared  with  gifts  of  nature, 
72,  73 

Christian  as  a  co-worker  with 
God,  83,  84;  mission  of,  as< 
a  representative  of  Christ, 
1 19,  120,  125,  126;  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  prayer,  97-109;  con¬ 
duct  of,  125,  126.  See  also 
Growth ;  Character 
Church,  work  of  the  true,  85-87 
Commandments,  see  Law  of 
God 

Confession,  to  God,  mercy 
obtained  through,  42 ;  to 
whom  made,  42-44;  true,  de¬ 
fined,  43,  44 ;  examples  of, 
44-46 ;  repentance  accompa¬ 
nied  by,  44;  followed  by  for¬ 
giveness,  43,  46;  examples  of 
insincere,  45,  46;  of  faults, 
to  men,  a  requisite  of  pre¬ 
vailing  prayer,  99,  100.  See 
also  Peace ;  Sin 
Conscience,  an  agency  in  work 


GENERAL  INDEX 


139 


of  repentance,  27,  30,  31 ;  the 
quieted,  not  easily  awakened, 
38,  39 

Consecration,  entire,  necessary 
to  complete  transformation, 
47-52 ;  involves  warfare  with 
self,  47 ;  optional  with  man, 
48 ;  hindrances  to,  48,  49 ; 
results  of,  49-51  ;  preparation 
for,  51,  52;  first  work  of  day, 
74,  75.  See  also  Idol;  Jus- 
'.ce :  Man;  Will 

Conversation,  themes  of,  107, 
124 

Conversion,  principles,  underly¬ 
ing  true,  53-60 ;  fruits  of  true, 
61-70;  illustrations  of,  71 
Cross  of  Christ,  theme  of  con¬ 
versation,  108,  109 
Curse,  a  blessing  in  disguise, 
9,  10 

DAVID,  example  of  true  re¬ 
pentance,  27,  28 
Dealings,  of  God  with  men, 
57-59,  hi 

Diligence,  a  requisite  of  pre¬ 
vailing  prayer,  102 
Discipleship,  the  test  of,  61-70 
Discouragement,  sin  not  a 
cause  for,  69;  brought  about 
by  Satan,  120,  121 ;  dwelling 
upon,  a  dishonor  to  God,  121, 
122 ;  eclipsed  by  goodness  of 
God,  122 ;  opens  way  to  sin, 
1^3,  124;  remedy  for,  123, 
124;  words  of,  not  to  be  ut¬ 
tered,  124,  125.  See  also 

Doubt ;  Feeling 


Doubt,  Christian  growth  hin¬ 
dered  by,  76,  77 ;  mysteries 
of  God’s  Word  no  ground 
for,  m-114;  originated  by 
Satan,  123;  causes  of,  113- 
116;  how  dispelled,  110-118, 
124 ;  uttered,  invites  Satan’s 
temptations,  124.  See  also 
Discouragement ;  Holy  Spirit ; 
Word  of  God 

fLDUCATION,  mental  and 
spiritual  growth  through 
daily  study  of  nature,  of 
Divine  providences,  and  of 
Bible,  89-96 

Encouragement,  extended  to 
sinner,  58-60 ;  to  obedience, 
69,  70.  See  also  Discourage¬ 
ment 

Erring,  see  Sinner 

Errors,  avoidance  of  two  dan¬ 
gerous,  64,  65 

Eve,  insincere  confession  of,  at 
fall,  45,  46 

Example,  Christ’s,  as  mission¬ 
ary,  to  be  followed,  82,  83  ; 
of  patriarchs,  zeal  inspired 
by,  92 

Experience,  a  deep  Christian, 
how  attained,  84;  evidence  of 
Divine  truth,  117 

AITH,  a  means  to  salva¬ 
tion,  53-60 ;  forgiveness 
through,  53,  54;  harmony 

with  God  obtained  through, 
53 ;  miracles  an  inspiration 
to,  54;  sinner  made  whole 


140 


GENERAL  INDEX 


through,  64,  65 ;  lack  of,  a 
cause  of  failure,  57 ;  promises 
of  God  received  through,  74; 
a  requisite  of  prevailing 
prayer,  100;  incentives  to,  116 
Feeling,  in  connection  with 
conversion,  53-56,  61,  75,  101 
Forgiveness,  through  faith,  53, 
54;  a  requisite  of  prevailing 
prayer,  101 

Fruits,  of  true  conversion,  61-70 

QIFT  of  God,  fulness  of,  24 
God,  fulness  of  gift  of,  24 
character  of :  revealed  in 
nature,  9,  10;  in  His  Word, 
io,  11  ;  through  Christ,  11-18; 
misrepresented  by  Satan,  11, 
120.  See  also  Love;  Mercy 
Growth  in  grace,  compared 
with  natural  growth,  72 ; 
through  abiding  in  Christ, 
73,  74 ;  hindrances  to,  76,  77 ; 
in  early  disciples,  77,  78; 

influenced  by  prayer,  79,  80, 
101,  102;  through  activity,  85 
Gulf,  made  by  sin,  bridged  by 
Christ,  23 

JLJ  ABITS,  formation  of  right, 
in  the  Christ-life,  71-109 
Happiness,  true,  gained  through 
unselfish  service,  130 ;  en¬ 
couragements  to,  130-132. 
See  also  Joy;  Joyfulness; 
Rejoicing 

Harmony  with  God,  attained 
through  faith,  53 
Heart,  change  of,  through 


Christ,  necessary  to  salvation, 
20;  the  human,  known  to 
God,  39 

Holy  Spirit,  principal  agent  in 
work  of  repentance,  32,  35, 
37,  38,  45;  work  of,  in  re¬ 
generation,  56,  60,  61-64 ; 

knowledge  of  God  ..obtained 
through,  91,  92,  1 15;  office- 
work  of,  96;  in  prayer,  97,  99 
Hope,  purpose  of  .  Satan  to 
destroy,  58 

Humanity,  bound  to  Christ,  77; 
represented  before  Father,  79 

JDOL,  the  smallest,  binds  to 
Satan,  48,  49 ;  hindrance  to 
consecration,  48 
Imperfections,  knowledge  of, 
evidence  of  nearness  to  Christ, 
7°  _ 

Inactivity,  75,  76.  See  also 
Activity 

Infidelity,  see  Doubt 
Influence,  of  a  Christian,  87; 
power  of,  125,  126 

ACOB,  as  outcast,  type  of 
sinner,  22;  Jacob’s  ladder,  23 
John  (the  apostle),  natural 
characteristics  of,  78 ;  trans¬ 
formation  wrought  in,  78 
Joy,  through  sacrifice,  51 ;  culti¬ 
vation  of,  62,  63 ;  of  Christ, 
81,  82.  See  also  Happiness; 
Joyfulness;  Rejoicing 
Justice  of  God,  satisfied  by 
repentance,  26 ;  revealed  in 
His  government,  47,  48,  51 
Justification  by  faith,  64-67 


GENERAL  INDEX 


141 


KNOWLEDGE  of  God, 
through  nature-study,  89, 
90 ;  through  providential 
workings,  91,  92;  through 

Holy  Spirit,  91,  92,  114-116; 
through  Word,  92-96;  intel¬ 
lect  strengthened  by,  94,  95 

J^ABOR,  unselfish,  results  of, 
85 ;  manual,  not  disre¬ 
garded  by  Christ,  86,  87 

Law  of  God,  love  the  founda¬ 
tion  of,  21 ;  discerned  in  work 
of  repentance,  27,  28,  33,  34, 
37,  40 

Life,  inability  ef  man  to  create, 
71 ;  Christian  to  reflect  Christ, 
88;  restfulness  in  the,  75,  76; 
to  be  characterized  by  activ¬ 
ity,  75,  76;  of  daily  Christian 
service,  results  of,  81-88;  how 
maintained,  85 

Link,  Christ  as  the,  between 
earth  and  heaven,  23 

Love  of  God,  unnumbered 
tokens  of,  n,  17,  18;  evi¬ 
dences  of,  as  pictures  for 
contemplation,  122 ; 

revealed :  in  nature,  9,  10, 
91;  in  His  Word,  10,  11; 
through  Christ,  1 1-18 ;  through 
earthly  ties,  1 1 ;  through 
prayer,  97-99,  104,  105,  108; 
through  his  dealings  with 
men,  91,  92,  ill 

Lucifer,  see  Satan 

MAN’  purpose  of  Satan  con¬ 
cerning;  19;  condition  of, 
in  Eden,  19;  unregenerate 


condition  of,  47-50.  See  also 
Redemption ;  Sinner 
Mercy  of  God,  revealed  in 
Word,  10,  1:;  not  to  be  pre¬ 
sumed  upon,  36 
Mind,  see  Feeling;  Scriptures 
Ministry,  unselfish,  constant, 
Christlike,  81-88 
Miracles  of  Christ,  faith  in¬ 
spired  by,  54 

Mission  of  Christian,  to  repre¬ 
sent  Christ,  1 19,  120,  125,  126 
Missionary  work,  see  Church; 
Ministry 

Mistakes  of  others,  not  to  be 
hindrances  to  repentance,  36, 
37 

Moses,  revelation  of  God’s 
character  to,  9,  10 
Mysteries,  of  God,  unsearchable 
by  man,  110-112;  furnish  no 
ground  for  doubt,  hi,  113, 
1 14;  of  Bilile,  indicate  divine 
origin  of  Word,  112 

^"ATURE,  things  of,  testify 
of  God’s  love,  9,  10,  89, 
but  imperfectly,  n 
New  Birth,  see  Conversion 

QBEDIENCE,  test  of  disci- 
pleship,  65 ;  rendered  by 
faith,  65 ;  the  fruit  of  faith, 
66 ;  learned  from  nature,  90 
Opportunities,  open  to  a  Chris¬ 
tian,  85,  86,  88 

pARALYTIC,  restoration  of, 
by  faith,  54 

Paul,  true  confession  made  by, 

46 


142 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Peace  of  God,  withheld  by 
neglect  to  confess  sin,  43 ; 
a  gift,  through  faith,  53,  54, 
130 

Penitence,  see  Repentance 
Perfection  of  character,  see 
Character 

Perplexities,  how  to  meet,  131 
Perseverance,  a  requisite  of 
prevailing  prayer,  101,  102 
Pharisee,  the  boastful,  con¬ 
trasted  with  poor  publican, 
35 

Plan  of  salvation,  see  Redemp¬ 
tion 

Praise,  as  a  theme  of  prayer, 
108,  109 

Prayer,  defined,  97-99,  102 ; 

purpose  of,  97-99;  results  of 
neglect  of,  98,  99;  prevailing, 
conditions  of,  99-102 ;  time 
and  place  for,  102-104;  secret, 
necessary  to  spiritual  life, 
102,  103 ;  constant,  results  of, 
105;  not  to  exclude  socia¬ 
bility,  106 ;  themes  of,  108, 
109 ;  Christian  growth  in¬ 
fluenced  by,  79,  80;  of  Christ 
for  followers,  80;  answers  to, 
received  on  condition,  55,  56 
Privileges,  of  Christian,  in 
prayer,  97-109;  in  constant 
rejoicing,  1 19-132 
Procrastination,  a  hindrance  to 
repentance,  37,  38 
Prodigal,  parable  of  the,  typical 
of  sinner,  59. 

Promises  of  God,  to  be  received 
by  faith,  53-60 


Principles,  Christian,  to  be  re¬ 
vealed  in  business,  86,  87, 
127 

Publican,  the  poor,  an  example 
of  true  repentance,  35 

REASON,  powers  of,  to  be 
exercised,  1 15 ;  not  to  be 
deified,  115.  See  also  Scrip¬ 
tures 

Redemption,  co-workers  with 
God  in  plan  of,  83 ;  theme  of, 
studied  by  angels,  93,  and 
by  man,  94;  steps  in  plan 
of,  capable  of  being  under¬ 
stood,  1 12 

Reformation  an  outward,  not 
true  repentance,  26,  27,  62; 
examples  of,  27,  28 

Rejoicing  in  the  Lord,  119-132; 
reasons  for,  24,  58,  59,  83,  91, 
106-108,  hi,  122,  123.  See 
also  Happiness;  Joy;  Joy¬ 
fulness 

Repentance,  defined,  26-28;  nec¬ 
essary  to  salvation,  26 ;  true, 
examples  of,  28,  35 ;  pre¬ 
ceded  by  conviction  of  sin, 
28;  agencies  of,  28-34;  not 
to  precede  coming  of  Christ, 
29,  30,  35;  the  gift  of  God, 
29-31  ;  work  of,  carried  on  by 
God  continually,  32,  33,  57; 
hindrances  to,  32,  33,  36-39; 
furthered  by  knowledge  of 
human  weakness,  33-36;  ex¬ 
hortation  to,  39-41.  See  also 
Conscience ;  Holy  Spirit ; 
Law  of  God;  Mistakes;  Pro- 


GENERAL  INDEX 


H3 


crastination ;  Self-sufficiency ; 
Will;  Word  of  God 
Rest  in  Christ,  not  inactivity, 
75,  76 

Reward  of  redeemed,  131,  132 
Righteousness,  law  of  God  the 
standard  of,  66 ;  Christ’s  im¬ 
puted  to  man,  67,  68.  See 
also  Justification  by  faith 

gACRIFICE  of  Christ,  con¬ 
templation  of,  24 
Salvation,  see  Redemption 
Satan,  misrepresentation  of 
God’s  character  by,  11,  120; 
plan  of,  to  hinder  Christian 
growth,  76,  77 

Scriptures,  testify  of  Christ,  93 ; 
how  to  study,  94-96;  effect  of 
study  of,  on  intellect,  94,  95 ; 
treasures  of,  how  discovered, 
95,  96.  See  also  Word  of 
God. 

Second  advent  of  Christ,  131, 
132 

Self-sufficiency,  a  hindrance  to 
repentance,  32,  33 
Service,  unselfish,  outgrowth  of 
conversion,  82,  83 
Sin,  freedom  from,  through 
Christ,  20 ;  figures  illustra¬ 
ting,  22;  judgments  against, 
a  warning  to  all,  24;  degrees 
of,  34,  41 ;  not  one  to  be 
overlooked,  34 ;  revealed, 
opens  way  to  repentance,  31 ; 
enormity  of,  measured  by 
sacrifice  of  Christ,  36,  37 ; 
results  of  Adam’s,  39 ;  re¬ 


mission  of,  follows  repent¬ 
ance  and  confession,  43,  46 
Sinner,  his  need  of  Christ,  19- 
25 ;  exclusion  of  the  impen¬ 
itent,  from  heaven,  not  arbi¬ 
trary,  20 ;  transformation  of, 
^  through  faith,  54,  55 
Skepticism,  see  Doubt 
Spirit,  fruits  of,  manifested  in 
Christian,  62,  63,  and  in  life 
of  Christ,  63,  64.  See  also 
Holy  Spirit 

Sympathy,  with  Christ,  attained 
through  suffering,  82 

rJ"'ALENTS,  given  to  all,  87 
Temptation,  how  to  meet, 
40,  52,  57,  58,  75,  76,  98,  99, 
104;  encouraged  by  doubt, 
124.  See  also  Cares ;  Doubt ; 
‘Prayer ;  Satan 
Test  of  discipleship,  61-70 
Testimony,  abundant,  to  estab¬ 
lish  faith,  no 

Trials,  relation  of  prayer  to, 
102-105;  spirit  of  Christian 
in,  127,  128.  See  also  Dis¬ 
couragement 

Trust,  learned  from  nature,  90; 
in  God,  manifested  by  Chris¬ 
tian,  126-130;  lessons  of, 
taught  by  Christ,  128-130 
Truth,  of  Bible,  result  of  study 
of,  94,  95,  1 13,  1 14;  wonders 
of,  1 12,  1 13;  understood  by 
faith,  1 15;  object  of  Satan 
concerning,  120,  121.  See 

also  Scriptures ;  Word  of 
God 


i44 


GENERAL  INDEX 


UNBELIEF,  see  Doubt; 
Feeling;  Trust 

Unselfishness,  spirit  of 
heaven,  81 ;  as  a  motive  in 
human  service,  81 

^/"ICTORY  over  sin,  through 
communion  with  God,  103- 
109.  See  also  Faith;  Prayer 

WILL-  the  human,  not  forced 
by  God,  39,  48;  governing 
power  of  man,  51,  52 
Wisdom,  God’s,  inexhaustible, 
114;  obtained  through  Spirit, 
1 14 

Witnesses  for  Christ,  in  foreign 
lands,  85,  86;  in  business,  86, 


87 ;  in  humble  walks  of  life, 
87,  88 

Word  of  God,  a  revelation  of 
God’s  character,  10,  11;  re¬ 
veals  way  of  salvation,  40 ; 
to  be  studied  with  prayer, 
1 15,  1 16;  study  of,  dispels 
doubt,  1 18.  See  also  Scrip¬ 
tures 

Workers  with  God,  82,  83; 
blessings  received  by,  84,  85 ; 
object  of,  85,  86;  need  for, 
85,  86;  opportunities  open  to, 
86-88 

2^EAL,  of  the  unconverted, 
81-88;  inspired  by  example 
of  patriarchs,  92 


.  y 

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